Most Jaipur roof-top eateries function without fire NOC

JAIPUR: The state capital is sitting on a time bomb as most of the roof-top cafés and restaurants here are running without a fire NOC from the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC). As per JMC officials none of the roof-top restaurants that are mushrooming across the city have taken fire NOC in the last two years.
Hundreds of buildings in the city have been served notices for not following safety laws but no action has been taken.After the fire incident that occurred in Surat a few weeks back that killed over 20 students, JMC acted immediately acting against the coaching institutes in Jaipur but have completely forgotten about these restaurants.
JMC fire deputy commissioner, Abha Beniwal while talking to TOI said, “Forget about fire NOC, these restaurants don’t even have licenses, nor have they fulfilled other legal requirements. To get a fire NOC a building needs urban development tax receipts, copies of approved map, lease clearance and fire prevention outlets. They don’t have proper legal documents for fire NOC. Almost all of them are running illegally in the city. There are many areas that are under the control of JDA that haven’t been transferred to us. Whenever we go to seal these places we don’t have the authority.” As per the law, a building that is more than 15 metres tall will require fire NOC from JMC, if it is found violating this then it can be sealed. Beniwal further said that JMC had issued hundreds of notices to these restaurants but none of them has applied for NOC in the last two years.
For fire safety a restaurant must have house pipe with underground tank, a smoke detector, water sprinklers, fire alarms, exit doors and exit staircase to rescue people in case emergency.