Pune: G+0 Plan, G+2 NOC? PCMC Suspends Fire Officer Over Moshi Building Collapse

Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pimpri-Chinchwad, 29th July 2026: The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has suspended Fire Station Officer Rishikant Hiraman Chipade with immediate effect and ordered a departmental inquiry into alleged irregularities in issuing the final fire no-objection certificate for the administrative building at the Moshi waste-to-energy project.

The action was taken through PCMC Order No. 195/2026, dated July 28 and signed by Municipal Commissioner Dr Vijay Suryawanshi.

The building, operated as part of the waste-to-energy project of Antony Lara Renewable Energy Pvt Ltd, collapsed on July 8 after a large waste mound became unstable amid heavy rainfall and fell on the structure. Nine contract workers died in the incident.

In the suspension order, Commissioner Suryawanshi said Chipade’s response to a show-cause notice had failed to satisfactorily address the allegations against him.

“The explanation received is highly unsatisfactory, baseless and unsupported by government and municipal rules,” Suryawanshi wrote. “Prima facie, it shows serious negligence, inexcusable laxity and dereliction of duty.”

Discrepancies in sanctioned plan and final NOC

According to the order, Chipade had been entrusted with responsibilities relating to the scrutiny of building plans submitted for Fire NOCs while serving as a deputy fire officer. His duties included inspecting sanctioned plans and construction sites, carrying out technical scrutiny, prescribing fire-safety measures and issuing provisional and final Fire NOCs.

The order said a construction plan for the waste-to-energy project’s administrative building was approved on January 17, 2019. A provisional Fire NOC permitting the commencement of construction was subsequently issued on April 5, 2019.

A revised building plan was approved by PCMC’s Building Permission Department on July 26, 2023. According to the suspension order, the revised permission covered only a ground-floor structure, or G+0, with a built-up area of 500.59 square metres.

However, the order alleged that a final Fire NOC issued on the same date described the administrative building as a G+2 structure with a total built-up area of 1,056.60 square metres. The civic administration said this revealed a substantial discrepancy between the sanctioned plan and the structure covered by the final Fire NOC.

The Commissioner’s order alleged that the final NOC was processed without adequate scrutiny of the approved drawings or a proper inspection of the site. It further claimed that the first and second floors were unauthorised and that the construction did not conform to the sanctioned plan.

Suryawanshi described the alleged conduct as a “misuse of authority by providing administrative protection to unauthorised construction.”

The order also alleged violations of the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006, as amended in 2023, the National Building Code and provisions of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1979.

Officer’s explanation rejected

PCMC issued Chipade a show-cause notice on July 17, asking him to explain the alleged lapses. His written response was received on July 20.

After examining the reply, the municipal administration concluded that it did not adequately address the discrepancies or establish compliance with civic and state government regulations.

“Such conduct demonstrates a lack of integrity and devotion to duty and tarnishes the image of the municipal corporation and the government in the eyes of the public,” Suryawanshi stated in the order.

The document records that Chipade submitted an explanation but does not reproduce his detailed defence.

The Commissioner said the alleged failure to scrutinise the sanctioned plan, inspect the site and alert the competent authority in time had allowed unauthorised construction on the first and second floors to proceed. The order said this resulted in violations of prescribed building and fire-safety standards and formed part of the serious lapses examined following the July 8 incident, in which nine contract workers lost their lives.

“This is an extremely serious matter. Prima facie, the officer displayed serious negligence and inexcusable laxity in the discharge of his duties,” Suryawanshi stated in the order.

He added:

“His conduct reflects a lack of integrity and devotion to duty and is liable to tarnish the public image of the municipal corporation and the government.”

The order cited alleged breaches of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1979; the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006, as amended in 2023; and provisions of the National Building Code.

Fire NOCs issued during tenure under scrutiny

The suspension order records that Chipade worked as a deputy fire officer between January 2, 2023, and February 22, 2026.

It said Calling Attention Notice No. 505 had been raised in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in connection with work carried out during his tenure. Following an assurance given during the discussion in the legislature, an inquiry committee was constituted to scrutinise the Fire NOCs issued by him.

The present case, the Commissioner said, involved allegations of serious dereliction of duty, administrative incompetence and misuse of official authority by allegedly providing administrative protection to unauthorised construction.

The order also referred to the alleged violation of approvals granted by the municipal administration, breaches of fire-prevention and life-safety requirements and the National Building Code, the deaths of nine contract workers and failures concerning measures required to safeguard public safety.

Immediate suspension and departmental inquiry

Invoking Section 56(1)(b) of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations Act, Commissioner Suryawanshi ordered Chipade’s immediate suspension from the date of the order.

“Considering the serious negligence, inexcusable dereliction of government duty, misuse of authority, administrative protection allegedly given to unauthorised construction, violations of fire-safety and building regulations, and the issues concerning the deaths of nine contract workers and public safety, Rishikant Hiraman Chipade is suspended with immediate effect,” the order stated.

PCMC will conduct a departmental inquiry against him under Rule 8 of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979.

The Fire Department has been directed to serve the suspension order on Chipade immediately and obtain his signed acknowledgement. It must also submit a formal statement of charges within 15 days. The order warned that an unexplained delay in initiating the departmental proceedings could result in disciplinary action against the officials concerned.

Conditions imposed during suspension

Under the terms of the suspension order, Chipade will receive a subsistence allowance in accordance with the applicable Maharashtra Civil Services rules. During the first three months, the allowance will be linked to the leave salary admissible during half-pay leave, along with the applicable dearness and other permissible allowances.

After three months, the subsistence allowance will be regulated in accordance with Rule 68 of the Maharashtra Civil Services rules governing payments during suspension, dismissal and removal.

Chipade has been prohibited from taking up any other employment, service or business activity during the suspension period. To receive the monthly subsistence allowance, he must submit a signed declaration to the Fire Department by the 20th of every month, certifying that he has not accepted any other employment or conducted any business.

Failure to submit the declaration within the stipulated period will result in the subsistence allowance being withheld. PCMC will not be responsible for any delay in payment caused by the officer’s failure to comply with the requirement.

The order further states that any misconduct by Chipade in a municipal office or on municipal premises during the suspension period will be treated as a separate act of serious misconduct and may invite additional disciplinary proceedings.

His headquarters during the suspension will remain Pimpri, and he will not be permitted to leave the headquarters without prior approval from the competent senior authority.

PCMC has also directed that the suspension order be formally entered in Chipade’s service book. The departmental inquiry will now examine the charges relating to the Fire NOC, the alleged discrepancies between the sanctioned plan and actual construction, and his conduct while discharging his official responsibilities.