'Unsafe from fire and life safety point of view': Abhishek Banerjee's office gets closure notice

A day after Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee’s office was vandalised by unknown miscreants, the West Bengal Fire & Emergency Services Department ordered the closure of the 6th and 7th floors of the office at 9 Camac Street. The notice points to inadequate fire safety measures and states that a hearing notice over non-compliance was not adhered to. The fire safety certificate, which was valid for three years, has now expired, and no attempt was made to renew the licence.

“A notice for hearing towards non-compliance of Fire Safety Measures at the 6th and 7th floors of the building at premises no. 9, Abanindranath Tagore Sarani (Camac Street), Kolkata-700017, was served to you vide memo referred above. However, you did not appear in the said hearing. The occupier of the said premises was also called upon at the same venue and time for the same purpose. The representatives of the occupier of the said 6th and 7th floors of the building appeared in the hearing and furnished a copy of the lease deed and submitted their views,” reads one notice.

It goes on to order the closure of the premises due to non-compliance. “Hence, considering the fact that due to non-maintenance and inadequacy of the required fire safety measures in the said occupancy(s) of the building, the occupancy(s) is unsafe from a fire and life safety point of view (as notified by the memo under reference), it poses an imminent threat to the safety of life and property of the building and its surroundings, you are directed to vacate the aforesaid occupancy(s) immediately. You are further directed not to use the said occupancy until and unless the fire safety measures are complied with and the RFSC is obtained by you,” reads one notice.

The second notice is similar and pertains to the basement area. “Hence, considering the fact that due to non-maintenance and inadequacy of the required fire safety measures in the said basement(s) of the building, the basement(s) is unsafe from a fire and life safety point of view (as notified by the memo under reference), it poses an imminent threat to the safety of life and property of the building and its surroundings, you are directed to vacate the aforesaid basement(s) immediately. You are further directed not to use the said basement(s) until and unless the fire safety measures are complied with and the RFSC is obtained by you,” reads the notice.

Last Thursday, police and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) officials forcefully entered Abhishek’s office with a notice to remove illegal hoardings from public premises, including those outside the office and on the terrace. FIRs were filed against Abhishek and TMC MP Derek O’Brien for allegedly heckling police personnel on duty. The duo and Abhishek’s office staff allegedly prevented police and KMC officials from entering the office. Both MPs appeared for police questioning earlier this week.