Noida: District magistrate Medha Roopam has pulled up Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway development authorities for failing to submit mandatory reports on fire preparedness and fire safety inspections of high-rise residential societies, despite repeated directions issued over the past two months.The lapses were flagged during a District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) meeting on Friday, where Roopam also took strong exception to the absence of senior officers from all three authorities. Roopam has written to the chief executive officers of the authorities, seeking written explanations for both the non-compliance and the absence of senior officials.Officials said the authorities had been directed in Dec, and again in Jan, to carry out immediate inspections of multi-storey residential buildings across the district to ensure compliance with fire safety norms and to initiate legal action wherever violations were found. However, no compliance reports have been submitted so far.“Despite clear instructions in previous review meetings, none of the development authorities have furnished reports on inspections of high-rise residential societies,” Roopam said. The DM also expressed displeasure over the absence of senior officials at the disaster management meeting. Additional CEOs or at least officers on special duty (OSDs) were required to attend, she said, but the authorities were represented only by senior manager-level officials. “These review meetings cannot be taken lightly. Sending a senior manager-level officer for every meeting is unacceptable,” Roopam said, adding that she has formally asked the CEOs to ensure the mandatory presence of senior officers at all future district-level review meetings.The issue of absenteeism and non-compliance was raised again later in the day during a Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) review meeting, also chaired by the DM. Roopam directed that compliance reports on decisions taken in previous NCORD meetings be submitted in writing the same day, warning that negligence at any level would invite strict action.Roopam said GB Nagar’s dense population, large number of high-rise buildings and significant industrial presence demand heightened disaster preparedness. She directed departments to conduct detailed fire safety audits of hazardous and large industrial units and instructed the fire department to remain on 24-hour alert. Safety checks were ordered in factories, hospitals, schools, malls, hotels and residential complexes, along with village-level awareness programmes aimed at preventing fire incidents.On road safety, officials were told to immediately address accident-prone stretches by repairing potholes, restoring road markings, zebra crossings and speed breakers, and improving dividers, lighting and radium reflectors. The DM also directed departments to prepare a comprehensive City Heat Wave Action Plan by March 20, 2026, for submission to the State Disaster Management Authority. Detailed action-taken reports, supported by photographs, are to be submitted within two days.At the NCORD meeting, Roopam instructed all departments to step up coordination to intensify action against the illegal sale, storage and trafficking of narcotics, as well as drunk driving and substance abuse. Officials were asked to submit detailed reports on enforcement and awareness activities carried out in Jan .
