GHMC's Fire Prevention Wing (FPW) has issued a second and final notice to 335 schools, each having more than 500 students on rolls, to install fire fighting equipment before December 31 or face penal action. Punitive action includes de-recognition and even prosecution.
Notices were issued to schools located in both Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts after physical inspection by officials. Altogether, 1,860 schools were checked and over the last few months 252 schools, which took up fire safety measures were given ‘No Objection Certificates (NOCs).'
“Compliance rate is picking up. Awareness about fire safety measures had increased ever since we took up inspections and issued notices. The attitude has changed from ‘why should we to do' to ‘what reasonable measures' can be taken,” testifies FPW Additional Director C. Lakshmi Prasad.
Thirty more schools are also likely to fall in line as their respective papers are being processed. Hospitals scene is not that encouraging though for smaller hospitals and nursing homes with 50 beds and below. Of the 569 hospitals functioning from buildings, which are 15 metres high or ground plus five floors, 149 have got clearances for taking appropriate fire safety measures while NOCs process was on for 40 others.
Commercial complexes and shopping malls have been quite notorious in ignoring the fire safety call. “The response has been very bad. There are some difficulties in putting up fire fighting equipment in the older buildings due to non-cooperation from different owners,” he explains.
The wing has also touched upon hotels, restaurants and even lodges in buildings of 15 metres and below height where 24 NOCs were issued of the 74 inspected. Fire safety inspections for buildings higher than 15 metres for commercial and 18 metres for residential are undertaken by the A.P. Fire and Emergency Services Department.
Mr. Prasad, who sits in the weekly building committee meetings of the Municipal Corporation, is content with the compliance of new buildings as fire safety measures are sorted out at the plan approval itself. Nevertheless, GHMC Commissioner M.T. Krishna Babu has sought permission from the government to allow FPW to issue annual licences for commercial buildings so that yearly renewals are made only after checking for safety norms.
“We have noticed that in several buildings the fire fighting equipment is not maintained properly. A licensing system akin to one introduced by the Fire Services Department would help correct that,” he added.
