07 May,2010 07:21 AM IST | | Sanjeev Kumar
Three stadiums yet to get NOCs, fall short of safety norms
Less than five months to go before the Commonwealth Games, but a burning issue remains. Three Games venues - Talkatora Indoor Stadium, Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium and Siri Fort Indoor Stadium are yet to receive No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the fire department.
Alarmed: An illuminated Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. The sports centre
that stands next to the Delhi Secretariat does not conform to fire safety norms
"We inspected these stadiums and found several shortcomings in them. These have to be rectified before Delhi Fire Services (DFS) grant them an NOC," fire department sources said.
"The width of the staircases in the Siri Fort Indoor Stadium and Talkatora Indoor Stadium are much less than the required limit, which is 2 metres. The ventilation in the basement is not adequate which can result in suffocation due to smoke if there is a fire incident," sources in Delhi Fire Department told MiD DAY.u00a0
"There is no compartmentalisation in these two stadiums and it can result in the fire spreading to other areas inside the stadiums. Moreover, there are many shortcomings with the exit gates and fire extinguishers," they said.
The Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium also lacks proper smoke management and compartmentalisation. Even Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range is yet to receive an NOC from the DFS. "We don't have any authority to make them comply with fire safety norms and in case a mishap takes place, the onus will lie with the agency taking over the stadium and overseeing the event. However, as of now we haven't issued an NOC to any of the stadiums that are being renovated and those which have been handed over to authorities," added the sources.u00a0
Speaking with MiD DAY, Delhi Fire Services Director, RC Sharma said, "We will issue an NOC when the concerned agencies confirm to the fire department the fulfilment of recommendations handed out to them."
The official spokesperson for Commonwealth Games, Lalit Bhanot said, "It's the duty of the venue owners to get all the safety and other clearances from respective agencies. The issue has come up in meetings and these venue owners are in the process of getting the clearances. I am very sure that we will get all the clearances in time."
