HYDERABAD: In a bid to curb rising incidents of fires in industries and commercial establishments, the fire department has proposed to amend the Telangana Fire Services Act, 1999, making it mandatory for all such buildings, regardless of height, to secure a No Objection Certificate (NOC). At present, such commercial structures below 15 metres are not regulated under the Act and do not need an NOC.
Although fire safety systems such as sprinklers, alarms, underground water storage and floor-wise fire extinguishers are recommended for all hazardous establishments, often buildings which do not require the NOC neglect these safety protocols.
But once the Act is amended, all such buildings will have to comply with the safety requirement as non-compliance will result in notices being issued during inspections.
According to the current act, any person proposing to construct a commercial building taller than 15 metres, residential structure of 18 metres and more, and public buildings such as schools, cinema, function halls and religious places spread over more more than 500 sq m or 6 metres and more in height, will have to apply for NOC with the department before submission of such building plans.
Officials said they have sent proposals to amend the Act to change the norms for commercial buildings to meet the requirements of present-day Hyderabad and Telangana.
“At a time when Hyderabad has emerged as a global city where MNCs are setting up their offices and real estate is growing, we need amendments in the Fire Services Act which are in tune with the developments. Based on past incidents where many industries lacked adequate fire safety measures and systems were poorly maintained in buildings exempt from NOCs, we have decided to include all such establishments under the Act,” said Y Nagi Reddy, DG of fire services.
He pointed out a recent fire in a plastic bag manufacturing unit in Jeedimetla, which was below 15 metres in height and lacked sufficient firefighting equipment. The department had to dedicate 48 hours and spend Rs 5 lakh on water tankers to combat the blaze. Fire safety infrastructure would have cost about Rs 60 lakh, but due to negligence the owner incurred a loss of Rs 60 crore, Nagi Reddy said.
