Bhayandar: In a significant move, Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) chief Balaji Khatgaonkar has restrained fire brigade from issuing No-Objection Certificate’s (NOC) to structures. The applications will now be forwarded to the Directorate of Fire Services (DFS) for a final nod.
Despite numerous high-rise buildings coming up in the twin-city, the civic administration is yet to wake up to the need of filling up the vacant key post of Chief Fire Officer (CFO) to handle its fire and emergency services wing. It is interesting to note that since its inception, the MBMC has not made any regular appointment for the much needed post of CFO. After an assistant fire officer who was qualified for the job but had opted for voluntary retirement in 2013, the fire brigade has remained headless with no full-time chief.
As a stop-gap arrangement, junior station officers who have remained at the helm of affairs shouldered the responsibility of granting fire NOCs. Challenging the validity of such documents issued by incompetent officers, former municipal corporator Milan Mhatre, in his complaint to the authorities, had sought a stay on all such permissions.
“The decision has been taken to streamline the process for better transparency and ensure there are no legal complications. The NOCs issued earlier by our fire brigade is under DFS scrutiny. A full-time regular CFO will be appointed soon,” said Khatgaonkar.
Incompetent officials who continue to bag the coveted CFO post in turns are under the scanner for exploiting their position to illegally sanction NOCs and mint money.