The Times of India       17.09.2014

No fire NOC to Mayo project

NAGPUR: It may sound strange that the construction work of modernization project of Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH), also known as Mayo Hospital, has been started without obtaining no-objection certificate and sanction of building plan from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) fire and emergency services and town planning departments respectively. However, the PWD has claimed to have started the process to get the two approvals.

The state Public Works Department started construction of the 250-bedded new hospital project along with boys and girls hostel within the premises of Mayo Hospital.

Sources in NMC and NIT told TOI no NOC was obtained from NMC's fire department before starting construction of the project. "Fire department's NOC followed by compliance and fitness certificate every year is a must for any hospital. This ensures proper and effective fire prevention and safety measures at the hospital," the sources said.

Sources said PWD took no approval for building plans too. "Fire NOC issue would have come forward in case application had been submitted for approval. The norms say that even state PWD has to ensure construction according to city's development control regulations (DCR). NMC does not issue building permit if the plan is not according to the city's DCR," the sources said.

PWD chief engineer A Sagne told TOI construction of the project was taken up on priority due to public interest litigation with the high court. "Already NMC has been requested for building plan permission. NMC asked us in orally to submit computerized drawings which we were to give them on receipt from chief architect. But now we doing on our own. Opinion of NMC fire consultant was taken for fire department's permission. We are preparing the proposal according to consultant's suggestion," he said.