40 high-rise buildings have been sealed due to a lack of BU approval, according to the government.

Following the Gujarat High Court’s order to take strict measures against those who violate building bylaws, state officials sealed 40 highrise buildings across the state due to a lack of valid building use permission. Last month, fire department granted No Objection Certificates to 43 hospitals and 69 schools. The state department of urban development and urban housing informed the high court of its response to the February 15 directions.

The High Court is hearing this case on the basis of a petition filed by petitioner-advocate Amit Panchal, who sought proper implementation of the Fire Safety Act after eight Covid patients died in a fire at Shrey hospital in Ahmedabad in August 2020.

The government has launched an aggressive campaign to ensure that buildings comply with the Fire Safety Act’s provisions. Ten hospitals and seven schools have been closed, and hospital and school buildings have been sealed due to a lack of fire NOC. According to the court, there is not a single hospital or school in the municipality that does not have a fire NOC operational, and only the OPD in hospitals can function.

Meanwhile, the survey to determine how many high-rise buildings can become BU-compliant after necessary modifications is expected to be finished in 10 days. “This task has been undertaken solely with the intention of minimising the hardship that may have to be endured, particularly by residents of the highrises,” according to the government’s affidavit. Buildings that cannot be converted to BU compliance are sealed off.

The HC has rescheduled the hearing for March 21.

On February 15, the High Court ordered state officials to take immediate action to seal highrises in municipalities across the state that lack a building use permit, citing the “category of unauthorised construction, unauthorised building, or unsafe buildings.” The bench, which included Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Ashutosh Shastri, then referred to a previous High Court order directing authorities to take action against defaulters. The court agreed with the explanation that a surge in Covid cases had previously slowed action against such structures. To ensure Covid safety, High Court also barred schools without fire NOCs from reopening after closure.