NOC scam exposed despite fire system being non-functional: NOC issued 6 months ago, system was shut when fi

The revelation has raised serious questions over the NOC renewal process following the massive fire that broke out on the market’s sixth floor on Tuesday night.

Chief Fire Officer Basant Parikh has informed the director in Gandhinagar about the matter by email. An inspection conducted after the blaze found that the market’s fire safety system was in a poor condition and was not operational.

The NOC renewal process requires verification that the fire safety system is functional. However, the NOC was renewed in February, raising questions over whether the system was actually inspected before the renewal.

Chief Fire Officer Basant Parikh said FSO Parth Patel had renewed the NOC in February. Police investigation has revealed that a trader allegedly started the fire at Shyam Sangini Textile Market.

Investigators suspect the fire may have been started to claim insurance or due to business rivalry. The youth allegedly involved in setting the fire and fleeing the market was last seen on CCTV in Godadara.