Bypassing of rules by officials causing more fire accidents

Musheerabad: Fire accidents in the GHMC limits in commercial establishments are increasing with officials allegedly ignoring regulations and confining themselves only serving notices. The officials are miserably failing to check the mishaps, even as day temperatures are rising.

Mushrooming of unauthorised structures are hindering the use of latest fire-fighting equipment by the department as the vehicles can’t reach the accident spots resulting in loss of property and lives. Leaders who make a hue and cry over the loss tend to adopt casual attitude leading to losses. Examples of this are the recent fire accident in a timber depot here, in a godown of a function hall, a plastic godown in Bholakpur and a transformer in Indiranagar.

These accidents have occurred because of violation of regulations by multi-storeyed buildings, hospitals and commercial establishments in which various companies dealing in crackers, chemicals have been located. Such violations are being increasing overlooked by officials.

Among the violations are the neglect of the National Building Code 2005, which stipulates that fire safety regulations, like the department permission, should be strictly followed in the case of buildings below 15 metres. Such buildings even at the construction stage should secure NOC from the Fire Services department.

Based on the NOC the municipal authorities give building permission. Besides the department personnel are supposed to inspect the premises if hospitals and commercial establishments are to be launched in these buildings.

However, such regulations are not allegedly being followed resulting in a spate of fire accidents in cellars of buildings and as also hospitals, with the officials, particularly the Fire Services department, concerned looking the other way.

They virtually wash off their hands by issuing notices to the party for violating the stipulated regulations, despite having a special wing in the GHMC office. Staff of this wing is supposed to identify the violation of rules by such high rise buildings. They too are not doing much barring issuing notices.

It is during the summer that more fire accidents take place, particularly in areas like Bolakpur which are thickly populated and there is hardly space for a person to pass through a hole. In such areas fire fighters can’t enter.

The situation can be imagined if an accident occurs in a plastic unit, where it becomes difficult for even the department personnel to reach the spot, leave alone fire fighters, if current criticism is given credence. Keeping this in view, there is a need for officials to take a serious view of violation of regulations and resort to preventive action to save precious lives and property.

By Bodike Manohar