It is really very sad to see eight persons die after a fire erupted at Hotel City Kinara in Kurla. BMC officials suspect that there was a gas leak on the first floor along with a short circuit that led to a blast. Those on the first floor got trapped over there and could not rush down where there was no damage. Officials confirmed that the site where the fire occurred was actually a storage space illegally being used as service area for customers.
BMC chief Ajoy Mehta has directed all ward officials to conduct ward-wise inspections of all grade two and grade three hotels in Mumbai. These officials will inspect the NOC granted to the hotels, will ascertain if the said area is being used for the purpose listed in the NOC and if any changes have been made to the area after the NOC was granted. After the completion of this task, it will start inspection of grade one hotels. The grading system is based on points allotted after inspecting factors like cleanliness, space and fire safety. MC Additional Municipal commissioner Sanjay Deshmukh said in case any hotel is found flouting norms, immediate action will be taken.
Meanwhile, the BMC has cancelled the license of hotel City Kinara and has lodged an FIR against it. It came to light that the BMC had on two previous occasions issued a notice to this hotel for not adhering to fire safety norms. The civic body must not shed off its responsibility by saying that notice was issued to hotels.
Don Bosco is a very good training facility and I have visited here a few times. It is also the duty of the college to check the places where its students are having food. However, the prime responsibility is that of ward officer responsible for checking such things and also that of the local police. It is realized that police men are overburdened but they can undertake single check in three months. It is heartening that Mumbai Police Commissioner Ahmed Javed is meeting the Maulanas with his deputies for creation of better and cordial atmosphere in the metropolis.
These days we feel lack of social leadership to guide the youth on correct path. Instead of concentrating on serious issues like drought, farmer suicides, rising population and unemployment some ministers of the NDA government is focused about irrelevant topics like meat ban. Yes, we can punish the cow slaughterer but not by mob action. There is drastic need to make the laws very strict and implement them at a faster pace to deliver justice to the victim. The conviction rate too must increase so that people will have faith in the judicial system.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal blamed the Centre for the rape of two girls. Kejriwal once again raised his demand for control of the police force to be transferred from the Centre to his government. BJP leader Vijendra Gupta said that Kejriwal was politicising the rape of two minors by pointing a finger at the Central Government. Gupta also accused Kejriwal of trying to distance himself from the issue of women security in the city. Kejriwal is trying to malign the highest authority without doing anything himself. He can create a volunteer force out of the JNU and Jamia students and give them some incentives and recognition.