Carlton Towers gets occupancy certificate sans fire dept clearance

The BBMP has issued occupancy certificate to Carlton Towers on Old Airport Road despite the Fire and Emergency Services department not renewing the clearance certificate.

The building was shut down after a devastating fire killed nine people and left scores of people injured on February 23, 2010. People trapped in the seventh floor of the building started suffocating and jumped to the ground. Only one person survived while the others died on the spot.

Raghu, BBMP’s additional director of town planning, told DH the occupancy certificate (OC) was issued a week ago. “We issued the OC after they put in place all the safety norms,” said Raghu. N R Markandeya, deputy director of Fire and Emergency Services, said the no-objection certificate was issued long back, but the annual renewal of clearance certificate had not been done.

“We had recommended certain rectifications such as addressing the building plan violations and lack of space between two buildings. The building owners complied with our directions. Now, they have to get the clearance certificate renewed. So far, no one has approached us for the renewal,” said Markandeya.

The officer said he was not aware of the OC issued by BBMP. The news came as a shocker for Uday Vijayan, who lost his 23-year-old son Akhil Uday in the fire tragedy.

“It is a serious matter if the fire and emergency services has not renewed the clearance certificate and yet the building is being thrown open. The fire department should step in,” said Vijayan, who started the campaign ‘Beyond Carlton’ to educate people about the necessary safety measures in high-rises.