Chandigarh: CITCO’s flagship hotels don’t have fire safety certificates
All these CITCO facilities had managed to obtain their bar licences last year as well after furnishing an undertaking with the excise department stating that they have applied for the NOC
At a time when the municipal corporation is tightening noose around violators of fire safety norms, Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation’s (CITCO’s) three flagship hotels – Hotel Mountview in Sector 10, Shivalikview in Sector 17 and Parkview in Sector 24 – and restaurant Chef Lakeview at Sukhna Lake are operating without a fire safety certificate.
As per the rules, UT excise and taxation department can issue a bar licence to any hotel or restaurant only after they provide fire safety certificates, also referred to as no objection certificate (NOC).
All these CITCO facilities had managed to obtain their bar licences last year as well after furnishing an undertaking with the excise department stating that they have applied for the NOC.
CITCO’s executive engineer Jitender Singh said, “We have already applied for the NOC and its status is under process. Fire department officials have told us to buy some fire equipment to get the clearance and we are in process of procuring the same through tenders.”
Chief fire officer Gurinder Singh Sodhi, meanwhile, said, “I am not aware of the status. I will look into the matter and accordingly seek a report from the officials concerned.”
Chandigarh municipal commissioner Anindita Mitra said, “I have already ordered a fire audit of all private and government buildings in the city, which will begin in April. After the report, action will be initiated against the defaulters.”
A private hotelier, who didn’t wish to be named, said, “It is strange that the excise department issued bar licences to CITCO hotels just on the basis of their application, while it doesn’t even entertain private hoteliers like us.”
MC to audit 2.5 lakh commercial buildings
At least 2.5 commercial buildings in Chandigarh will undergo a fire safety audit, which was ordered by the municipal commissioner following a major blaze at the basement of a Sector-26 showroom on February 27.
The entire process will to be completed within six months and all buildings will be checked as per the National Building Code, said officials.
Several city markets and buildings, including hotels, private hospitals, showrooms, office buildings, schools, and business centres, do not comply with basic fire safety norms. Kiosks like those at Shastri Market in Sector 22 and Palika Bazaar in Sector 19 also lack proper fire safety equipment. These cramped markets with narrow lanes draw hundreds of visitors daily but have no room for fire tenders to reach in case of a blaze.
