After the fire incident in Rajkot, Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has commenced rigorous inspections of fire safety facilities in the city. In this process, sealing actions have been initiated wherever there was a lack of fire safety NOC (No Objection Certificate) and Building Use (BU) permits. Consequently, a significant number of textile markets on the ring road have been sealed.
Hundreds of traders and workers are now facing financial losses due to these sealing actions. In response, angry traders took to the streets this morning to protest the closures of their businesses, resulting in a major traffic jam on the ring road. The police intervened to manage the situation as the protest intensified.
Market officials argued that they were unaware of the missing BU certificates when they purchased their shops and now their businesses are suffering due to the builder's oversight. Despite paying all taxes, including GST, the sealing of markets has brought their operations to a halt, severely impacting their income.
Surat Mayor Dakshesh Mawani acknowledged the traders' grievances and promised to address their concerns regarding the sealing actions. He urged traders to present their case to the government promptly to resolve the issues.
However, the mayor stressed the necessity of complying with fire safety regulations. He warned that sealing actions would continue wherever violations are found and appealed to traders to meet the required safety standards to avoid future disruptions.
