Suruchi main factory unauthorized too

Nagpur: The manufacturing unit of Suruchi Spices Private Ltd too is unauthorized as per the records of the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT). It also lacks a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the fire department.
The company’s cold storage caught fire two days ago and spread to another one of its units in the same property. The fire continues to rage and officials said it will take another 2-3 days for it to be completely doused.

An NIT official told TOI that a notice was issued to Suruchi’s factory a couple of years ago. “It has a sanction from the gram panchayat which is not authorized to give it. The company did not apply for sanction even after the notice,” the official said.

Deputy chief fire officer BP Chandankhede said the factory too does not have a fire NOC. However, the department had not pulled it up even once. The cold storage was issued notices twice a year ago.

As per information given by officials of NIT and fire department, the Suruchi property, which is located at Kapsi Khurd near Umiya Industrial Estate on Bhandara national highway, houses a factory where processing and packaging of spices and other products take place, two cold storages — which are burning now — and warehouses.

Chandankhede said a notice will be issued to the factory soon. Director of Suruchi Spices Ravi Jain did not respond to TOI’s call and message.

On Wednesday, three of the four firemen who sustained injuries were discharged after treatment. The fourth — Suresh Binekar — underwent a surgery as he sustained serious burn injuries on one hand. He continues to undergo treatment.

Chandankhede said the fire in the second cold storage has been extinguished and “it has become weak and may have to be demolished”. “Three fire tenders and a turntable ladder are currently at the spot trying to control the fire in the first cold storage,” he said.

As per rules, the cold storage building cannot be higher than 15 metres. However, the first one is 23 metres and the other is 18 metre tall.

The fire department is likely to file an affidavit in the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court informing it about the fire incident. The HC had given a stay on the fire department’s notice for disconnecting power and water supply to the two cold storages.

This is the second fire in the Suruchi unit. In May 2013, after a massive fire an earlier cold storage had to be demolished.

Activist Kamlesh Shah said action should be taken against the officials of the planning authorities and fire department. “I had got information under RTI in 2012 about 15 cold storages and lodged complaints with all authorities on the illegalities. Notices were issued by the officials but no action was taken,” he said.

In January 2012, 17 people had died when Pravesh Cold Storage collapsed in Kalamna. Food products worth crores of rupees were destroyed. As per information available, five cold storages have caught fire in the last couple of years.

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FIRES STORY

* Breaks out in a cold storage of Suruchi Spices on Monday

* Spreads to 2nd cold storage

* Fire department had issued notices to both cold storages but HC imposed stay on disconnection of power and water supply

* Height of both cold storages is above permissible limit

* Main factory too does not have building sanction and fire NOC

* NIT issued notice to factory couple of years ago

* Fire department did not do so