Delhi govt’s probe report on Bawana fire finds lapses on part of five agencies

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has now asked a high-powered committee — that prepared the report — to “fix responsibility of individual officers” in every department or agency involved.

The Delhi government’s enquiry report in the Bawana factory fire, which killed 17 people in January this year, has blamed “the failure of multiple agencies” for the disaster.

17 people were killed in the factory blaze at Bawana in January this year. (Arvind Yadav/HT File Photo)

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has now asked a high-powered committee — that prepared the report — to “fix responsibility of individual officers” in every department or agency involved.

The high-powered committee received the report back from the office of the lieutenant governor (L-G) Anil Baijal with the CM’s remarks on Tuesday.

The report has blamed five agencies— North Delhi Municipal Corporation, Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation, state labour department, Delhi Fire Services and Delhi Police — for “lapses” that resulted in the blaze.

“We will be asking all the agencies to submit a list of officers responsible. The probe report was submitted a few months ago and has been accepted by the government. However, it has come back from the CM and the L-G’s office today,” said an official.

The multiplicity of agencies, the official said, made it difficult to fix responsibility. The DSIIDC, which set up the Bawana Industrial Area in outer Delhi by allocating plots to factory-owners, doesn’t have mandate for its monitoring, which should ideally be the case.

It was also found that the labour department did not have the names and credentials of the Bawana factory that caught fire with it. Also, the Delhi Police was not aware of crackers being manufactured from the factory, said officials.

Officials in the labour department blamed the MCD stating that most factories in Bawana operate without a licence from the civic body. The labour department hence had no details of the people working there.

Delhi Police PRO Madhur Verma said, “The crime branch is investigating the case.”

The high-powered committee, headed by home secretary Manoj Parida, has also made several recommendations to prevent such incidents in the future. These include short- and long term measures such as a central agency for regulating the units, industrial estates to have their own fire-fighting mechanism and change in fire laws.

“In this case it is suggested that DSIIDC must act as the chief regulator for industrial areas set up them. Also, it must have a small fire station under it to be ready to deal with an emergency,” another official said.

Mohanjeet Singh, chief managing director, DSIIDC, however, said he is yet to see the report.

“So far we are only responsible for providing plots and ensuring construction. The sanction of building plan and licencing is with the municipal corporation. We had earlier suggested that if these industrial estates are notified as industrial townships then DSIIDC can be the single agency looking after the operations,” Singh said.

Delhi fire services chief GC Mishra also said, “I haven’t seen the report. We need manpower to look after the city. However, the suggestion of industrial pockets having their own fire station is welcome.”