The government has started tightening fire safety measures in the Secretariat, housed at the historic Fort St. George, in the wake of the recent fire at the Mantralaya building in Mumbai.
A circular has been issued to all departments to post middle-level officers who will ensure that electrical appliances in their respective departments are switched off after the work ends.
The Fort St. George campus not only comprises the main building but also the 10-storeyed building, where most of the departments are housed. In the main building, apart from the offices of Chief Minister and Ministers, only core departments are accommodated.
A senior official notes that the government has been making a constant review of its fire safety measures. Long before the Mantralaya incident, steps had been initiated by the Public Works Department (Buildings) and the Fire and Rescue Services Department. Already, one batch of officials had been given training in fire fighting.
