More than half of Bawana factories run without licenses

Around 50-60 per cent of the factories in the Bawana Industrial Area, where a unit caught fire killing 17 workers, are running without licenses. The area having 15,500 plots has most of the factories running "illegally", as according to the civic body, which issues licenses, these units are "closed" on paper, and have not sought a license. The factory that blew up in flames last week, too, did not have a license and had started work "illegally" on January 1.

The factories that appear shut from outside but are functional "illegally" are mostly rented out, violating the rules under the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC), which has developed the area.

According to rules, 'subletting' or 'renting out' the plot is not in the provisions and accounts for violation. "We have issued only a few licenses in this area, as most of the buildings are not in operation, and hence there have not been many applications seeking a license. We have an online procedure for seeking licenses," said a civic official investigating the area. The area falls under the jurisdiction of the North MCD.

"We have a purely developmental role and have allotted plots here. It is the job of the labour department, the civic body and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to see what business is actually going on in the area, as we do not have any statutory powers of monitoring or regulation," said a senior DSIIDC official.

When DNA visited the area, most of the people operating factories said they have a rent agreement with the original plot owner while they are using the unit for packaging or as godowns for storage.

Vinay Gupta, who has a cardboard packaging business, said, "I have a rent agreement with the owner. We are not manufacturing goods here. Also, we have firefighting and other equipment in place."

DNA had earlier reported that the factory ---F-83, sector 5 --- where the fire broke out had not applied for a "Completion Certificate" for the building.