PCMC Suspends Fire Officer Over Moshi Building Collapse

A fire department officer in Pimpri-Chinchwad has been suspended for allegedly issuing a Fire No-Objection Certificate (NOC) without inspecting the site of a three-storey building that collapsed earlier this month, resulting in the loss of nine lives.

The suspension order was issued by Municipal Commissioner Dr Vijay Suryawanshi against Fire Station Officer Rishikant Chipade. The civic body has accused Chipade of negligence, misuse of power, and shielding unauthorised construction by granting the final fire NOC without carrying out a site inspection.

The incident occurred on July 8 at the Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plant at the Moshi garbage depot, where a massive mound of legacy waste collapsed onto the administrative building. Twenty-three people were trapped, and nine workers died after an 84-hour rescue operation.

According to the civic body's findings, permission had been granted only for the ground floor of the administrative building. However, the fire department later issued a final Fire NOC for a three-storey structure. The additional first and second floors were constructed without approval, but the discrepancy was not reported to senior authorities.

A show-cause notice was issued to Chipade after it was found that the final Fire NOC had allegedly been granted without a proper inspection. The Municipal Commissioner rejected his reply, calling it unsatisfactory and contrary to government rules and municipal regulations.

The suspension order states that Chipade failed in his duties, misused his powers to protect unauthorised construction, and violated provisions of the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act and the National Building Code.

Earlier, the PCMC had suspended Chief Engineer Sanjay Kulkarni and Executive Engineer Yogesh Alhat of the Environment Engineering Department in connection with the same incident. A departmental inquiry against both officers is currently underway.

The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes have taken serious note of the tragedy and have issued notices to the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner, the Social Welfare Commissioner, and the Pune District Collector, directing them to submit a detailed report within 15 days.

The tragedy has highlighted the need for stricter enforcement of building regulations and safety protocols in the region. The PCMC has taken steps to address the issue, but more needs to be done to prevent such incidents in the future.

The suspension of the fire officer is a significant step towards ensuring accountability and transparency in the civic body's functioning. It is essential to investigate the matter thoroughly and take necessary actions to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

In conclusion, the Moshi tragedy has resulted in a significant loss of life and has raised concerns about the safety and security of buildings in the region. The PCMC's decision to suspend the fire officer and order a departmental inquiry is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to address the issue and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.