Building had no valid licence to store chemicals

Sunday's inferno at Brightu00a0 Products Chemicals at Veerapillai Street near Commercial Street, has spilt out a can of worms, with officials of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) confirming that the owners had not taken valid licences for storing the chemicals.

Even 16 years after the chemical unit started operations, the BBMP does not know when the building was constructed, and the pollution control board was clueless of any such unit operating there.

Following the fire, the building has developed cracks on the third floor because of the enormous heat produced when the highly inflammable materials caught fire.

According to BBMP sources, the building is unfit to be occupied for commercial or residential purposes as its structure has become weak and it is now in a dilapidated condition.

A team of experts from each department BBMP, KSPCB, Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd and investigators from the forensic laboratory visited the building that was ravaged by fire for over four hours.

Chief Engineer S Somashekar, BBMP, said, "Our engineers visited the spot to find out if there were any building violations. We have asked the building owner to submit the documents for investigation since we don't know when the building was constructed."

u00a0DGP Fire Services Jija Hari Singh said, "The building has violated all rules as it doesn't have set-back space and also a very narrow staircase for a three-storied building. Such inflammable materials are not supposed to be stored in such a congested commercial area."

Inspector S Badarinath, Commercial Street police station, said, "A case of negligence has been booked against the owners for storing highly inflammable materials and endangering the life of public."

According to sources, one of the owners was hospitalised after hearing about the fire accident.

Flouting Norms
> BBMP clueless about when the building was constructed, asks owner to provide details
> State pollution control board unaware of a chemical unit operating there, rendering it illegal
> Staircase was narrow for a three-storied building
> The building did not have mandatory set-back space