Mumbai: As part of their special fire safety drive, the Mumbai fire brigade and A-ward of the BMC jointly took action against the Cricket Club of India and the Bombay Gymkhana on Friday, for storing LPG cylinders in the kitchen and carrying out illegal alterations. At Bombay Gymkhana, three LPG cylinders were found in the staff canteen kitchen, while carbon dioxide-compressed air industrial use cylinders were found in the main kitchen, which have been seized, said Chief Fire Officer Prabhat Rahangdale.
Similarly, at CCI, 41 LPG cylinders were found in the cabinet, apart from one loosely connected LPG cylinder in the kitchen and one cylinder of a refrigerant. CCI authorities failed to produce the no-objection certificate (NOC) for storage of these inflammable items. Further, illegal renovation was underway on the second floor of CCI at the lodging house. Once again, the CCI was unable to produce an NOC and a letter of permission from BMC’s building proposal department for the project, fire officials said.
The renovation was creating an obstruction in the club passageway, said Rahangdale. 2006, a notice will be served on both clubs, confirmed Rahangdale. Another fire official said, “A report will be prepared and sent to the CFO, who will decide on the future course of action — revocation of licence or imposition of a fine. In our action, the first step is the removal of all life-threatening objects and thereafter, serve notice.”
The action comes in the wake of the Kamala Mills fire tragedy in December 2017, in which 14 people lost their lives. After this fire, the Bombay High Court had directed the authorities to conduct inspections at various commercial and residential establishments. Citizens and activists had repeatedly decried the lack of such inspections.
