Building by-laws violations continue to put lives at risk

Setting up of industrial units in residential areas continue without check

LAHORE: Incidents as tragic as the death of over 40 people in a chemical factory explosion a decade ago at Kharak Nullah, Sabzazr and the factory fire in Imamia Colony that claimed at least 11 lives failed to shake up the authorities.

The establishment of industrial units in violations of building by-laws continued in the city.

Over a decade ago a powerful explosion in a chemical factory in Sabzazar had claimed at least 40 lives. The unit was set up in violation of the rules and regulations that too in residential areas. After the incident committees were set up and surveys conducted. However, there was no visible outcome of the exercise.

The reports revealed shocking facts. It had come forth that thousands of manufacturing units and factories, a few dealing with very dangerous and explosive materials, were functioning in the city. The government failed to put a stop the practice.

Reports about the tragic incidents of fire, injuries and deaths kept on pouring in.

The death of at least three people in a shoe factory on Ravi Road in 2016, five workers’ death in Haidri Steel Mill Hadiara, death of at least four and injury to over 40 due to fire in a warehouse in Mochi Gate on January 2, 2020 are a few besides the above mentioned incidents.

The Building Fire Safety codes were formulated with the help of Pakistan Engineering Council in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority. Similar other steps were also taken.

In December 2017, former Lahore Mayor Col (retd) Mubashar Javed had issued a notification for the implementation of Building and Zoning By-Laws 2017, after Sunder Industrial Estate factory collapse in 2015 that claimed at least 41 lives.

The notification read, “In pursuance of section 145 and in exercise of powers vested under Section 87 of the Punjab Local Government Act, 2013, the house of Metropolitan Corporation Lahore has approved the Building and Zoning By-Laws for Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL) in its meeting held on November 08, 2017 vide Resolution No 165 I, Lahore Mayor Col (retd) Mubashar Javed, do hereby notify the Building and Zoning By-Laws for the Metropolitan Corporation, Lahore.”

A chapter of Building and Zoning By-Laws 2017 dealt with setting up and security of Industrial Units.

A spokesperson for Lahore Deputy Commissioner Imran Maqbool told The Express Tribune that these units were being dealt with by MCL after new developments.

He added that bifurcation was created for such units that were set up a few years or decades earlier after thorough approval following a formal procedure.

For example, a unit was set up at PECO Road. However, afterwards, the residential areas were constructed around it and the unit came into purview of residential areas. For such areas, it was being considered that such units did not deal with explosive or dangerous materials.

Chapter four of the laws made it mandatory for minimum of specific allocation of space in industrial areas in approved schemes as well as in industrial zones in established built-up areas. It also asked for dedicated space at front, rear, side and also delineated the maximum ground for coverage of the unit building.

It also specified building height, water closet and urinals and parking for large vehicles etc.

The law made it mandatory for both type of units for establishment of waste treatment plants and disposable works in accordance with requirements of Environmental Protection Agency.

It asked for these not to be constructed in open spaces. It also asked for fulfillment of all requirements by ministry of industries, ministry of petroleum, Civil Defence Department, Explosives Department, EPA and other concerned agencies besides other requirements.

Unfortunately, on ground, practically these requirements made mandatory by the by-laws were missing in the overwhelming majority of the industrial units especially functional in residential areas.

The requirements were blatantly being violated in all the buildings in the above mentioned incidents.

Commenting on the issue, MCL CEO Syed Ali Abbas said the MCL were taking action for such violations.

He said zonal in-charges have been directed to devise an improved strategy to expedite action.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2020.