Bombay HC nudges Maharashtra government to act against organiser for fire breakout at 2016 Make in India event

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday asked the state government to decide in three weeks what action it proposes to take against the contractor it appointed to organise the Make In India event in 2016. A major fire had broken out at the function at Girgaum Chowpatty, which caused damage to the beach. The event was organisede by M/s Wizcraft International Entertainment.

A division bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Riyaz Chagla gave the direction after the counsel for a court-appointed committee submitted a report prepared by the chief fire officer (CFO) of Mumbai fire brigade.

The report states that highly combustible material was placed near the stage at the event, triggering the fire, in a major embarrassment for the BJP-led government.

"The state should consider the report and decide if any action is to be taken against the contractor, especially in the light of the enormous damage that was caused to the beach," the bench said.

In its report uploaded on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation website, the fire brigade has said that repeated instructions for fire safety were ignored in the run-up to the event. "In spite of repeated instructions no heed was paid by the organisers to follow these safety instructions. This shows wilful negligence/flouting of fire safety instructions in spite of knowledge of the same," the fire brigade said.

The report further states that the fire brigade had expressly asked the organisers not to use LPG gas cylinders. Yet, 15 cylinders were found at the site. The pyrotechnics fuelled the fire further.

The court has asked the state to decide on the action to be taken within three weeks and file a compliance report.

FIRE LEFT GOVT RED

• In an embarrassment for the BJP-led state government, a major fire broke out at Girgaum Chowpatty in 2016 during its much-touted Make in India event. 
   
• The high court has also asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to decide in 3 weeks on how to improve lighting at the beach.