No fire safety measures in many high-rise buildings

No fire safety measures in many high-rise buildings
The Hindu - Staff Correspondent

Parking space provided in the cellar has been utilised for shops in many buildings
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# Fire safety measures in theatres are of the required standards
# No steps taken by the authorities concerned despite being told
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HUBLI: More than 25 multi-storeyed buildings in the twin cities, including commercial and residential buildings, do not have fire safety measures, B.K. Hampagol, Chief Fire Officer, North Karnataka Region, has said.

Addressing presspersons here on Friday, he said although this had been brought to the notice of the authorities concerned, no steps had been taken.

According to the norms issued by the Union Government, it is mandatory for high-rise buildings to install fire safety equipment and take up construction in such a way as to reduce casualty in case of fire mishap. However many of the high-rise buildings, including hospitals, do not have the facility, he said.

In most of these buildings the parking space provided in the cellar has been utilised for shops, which consequently has increased the risk, he said.

Based on the norms issued by the Union Government, the Hubli-Dharwad Urban Development Authority (HDUDA) had issued an order making it mandatory for the developers, construction companies or owner of the high rise buildings to get No Objection Certificate from the Directorate of Fire Services, Bangalore, before applying for the Completion Certificate. It had also clarified that unless the high-rise buildings have NOC from the directorate regarding fire safety measures, it should not be issued Completion Certificate, he said.

The copies of the order issued about a year ago had been sent to the Town Planning Department of Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation. However, there has been no action from the corporation, he said.

He said since the installing the fire safety system itself is going to be a costly affair, most of the owners of the high-rise buildings see it as an expenditure rather than a safety measure.

He said the fire safety measures in the theatres of the twin cities were of the required standards.

The statement of the Chief Fire Officers gains significance, as the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation has begun the process of initiating action against commercial buildings having no completion certificate.