Fire safety audit for all high rise buildings, complexes in State soon

Hyderabad (TSIT): A high level committee has decided that a fire safety audit should be done for all the high rise buildings, all commercial establishments, hospitals, educational institutions and other huge buildings in Hyderabad and other major cities in the State.The committee also decided to give ex gratia amounting to Rs five lakhs to the next of kin of those who died in fire mishap at Ramgopalpet in Secunderabad.
Minister for MA&UD K T Ramarao, Home Minister Mahmood Ali and Minister for Animal Husbandry Talasani Srinivas Yadav presided over the high level meeting on fire mishaps and safety at BRKR Bhavan here on Wednesday. Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, DGP Anjani Kumar, and other senior officials attended the meeting.Addressing the meeting, KTR directed the Municipal, Police and Fire department officials to conduct fire safety audit of high rise and huge buildings in Hyderabad and all other important cities of the state within the stipulated time. Safety audit should also be done for all hospitals, educational institutions, petrol bunks, gas godowns, commercial establishments, high rise apartments etc., He however made it clear that the public should not be harassed at any cost in the name of fire safety. He pointed out that with the increasing population, the safety of the people is paramount. Minister also asked the officials to send proposals to amend the fire safety norms formulated in 1999 if necessary.
“The government is ready to provide the latest vehicles and machinery to the Fire department as it has done to the police department,” he said, and asked the Chief Secretary to submit proposals in this regard. He complimented the officials for their timely response in handling the fire mishap in Secunderabad which has resulted in less loss of life. Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav wanted a high level committee to be set up to formulate guidelines to prevent major outbreaks of fire in the city and other major cities across the state. He observed that there are more than 25 lakh commercial establishments in the city and guidelines should be prepared which would enable them to take up fire safety precautions on their own. The Home Minister suggested that fire safety norms should be strictly adhered to while giving building permission.
CS Santhi Kumari announced the constitution of a high level committee comprising of senior officials which would suggest measures to prevent fire mishaps. She stated that proposals for purchasing vehicles and latest equipment along with training to fire department personnel would be submitted soon. DGP Anjani Kumar said that special measures should be taken in those establishments responsible for fire mishaps.