Complained about Alipur factory many times, fell on deaf ears: Residents

Explaining the factory’s structure, a police officer said the premises had no ventilation barring a small window inside the owner’s cabin with an exhaust attached to it.

The factory’s products were transported to Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar and sold to buyers, mostly in Jabalpur and other cities. Its byproducts, meanwhile, ran through the bylanes and drains.

Aman, a resident of the area, claimed they had raised the issue of drains being clogged with chemicals emanating out of the factory with the local administration two years ago to no avail.

“It’s difficult to live here, amid such foul smell,” he added. This was reiterated by Bimal (42), another resident. When The Indian Express contacted a senior government officer from the revenue department, they said the matter of construction/unauthorised construction relates to the MCD in urbanised villages. “Please check with SDM concerned…,” they said.

The SDM Alipur and Narela did not respond to calls and messages seeking comment. Both the SDM and DM fall under the revenue department.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) confirmed that the factory was built illegally.

According to the civic body, the premises was a flat being used for factory purposes located on a 10×12 wide street in a residential area. “The fire broke out in a dense residential area located on lal dora abadi of Alipur village. The house in which the fire broke out was used illegally for… mixing chemical paint. (this) was apprised by neighbours … recently,” the MCD said in a statement.

DC (Narela Zone) also reached the spot and looked after the process of evacuation personally, according to the MCD.

Meanwhile, MCD’s Leader of Opposition, Raja Iqbal Singh, hit out at the AAP and said: “The incapability of the AAP and the widespread corruption in the MCD’s factory licensing department resulted in this tragedy.”