Taking note of the lack of fire safety measures in many government high-rise buildings in the city, Upa Lokayukta Subhash B. Adi has directed officials to submit an action plan to ensure fire safety in these buildings within two months.
Directions were issued after Mr. Adi took up a case suo motu . The Deputy Director of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services has submitted a report stating that “most government buildings do not have proper fire safety measures” and some need immediate attention.
According to the report, at present, there is no procedure to seek a NOC from the Fire department for government high-rise buildings.
This is promised to be corrected soon and all such buildings will also be subjected to fire audit like any other building. The building plan is being sent to the authority only for information purposes. Even if fire safety measures are implemented, they are not inspected, the release said.
A Lokayukta release stated that the Public Works Department has set aside Rs. 10 crore to ensure fire safety measures in all government high-rise buildings in the current financial year.
In view of this separate budget by the government, the PWD has proposed an action plan for the same after consultation with fire safety experts. The Fire Department has also stated that the Deputy Director will inspect the buildings and submit a report listing the safety measures provided, within two months.
Based on a notification, the department had earlier voluntarily inspected some of the government buildings and suggested safety measures. However, the measures have not been implemented, he said.
Upa Lokayukta Subhash B. Adi has scheduled a review meeting on November 17.
