Kochi: Close on the heels of the Fire Force findings, a probe by the Superintending Engineer of the Kochi Corporation into the Paragon fire tragedy faulted the building owner with making illegal constructions after obtaining corporation licence.
The report submitted in the council meeting on Thursday found the owner illegally did tress works at top portion of the six-storey building besides covering its sides with tin sheets.
The additional construction activities were carried out after the corporation issued license for residential-cum-commercial purpose, it said. “Tress work was carried out illegally in the top-most portion. The side portion was tightly covered using tin sheets. . The generator, from which the fire had broken out, was kept in one of such floors. ,” the report said.
The Opposition expressed doubt over the report saying it was not clear whether the corporation issued the license post making the additions or prior to that. “Also, it’s not advisable to give permit for functioning of a go-down dealing with inflammable substances in such thickly populated areas ,” said Opposition leader K J Antony
The council meet finally entrusted the Town Planning Committee to prepare a detailed report on the episode, covering all these aspects.
