Nagpur: According to a recent report, 68 government buildings in Nagpur were found to lack necessary firefighting infrastructure during a fire audit conducted by the Fire and Emergency Services team of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC).
Of these buildings, 51 were deemed unsafe due to almost zero firefighting measures. The audit was carried out by personnel from nine fire stations. The lack of firefighting arrangements was observed in most of the government buildings, including the South Central Zone Cultural Centre, NIT’s ground plus four storey building off Railway Station Road, Government Printing Press (Civil Lines), G+2 storey building of Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (Civil Lines), CGST and Central Excise premises (Telangkhedi), office of the Deputy Chief Architect (state PWD Nagpur, north wing), NMC-run schools in Bijli Nagar and at Futala.
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Thursday 19 Dec. 2024
The fire audit of bungalows occupied by class-I gazetted officers being maintained by State PWD also revealed a lack of firefighting arrangements. The survey was conducted after the High Court passed strictures directing the State Public Works Department to ensure firefighting arrangements in place at Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital and GMCH.
Till date, the department has issued fire NOCs to 202 buildings and establishments across the Corporation limits. However, in most of the government buildings, ABC type extinguishers, CO2 type extinguishers, wet riser system, hose box, hose pipe, branch and hose reel, fire alarm panel system, and automatic sprinkler systems were not found. The official stated that the situation was similar in almost all the premises of government and semi-government buildings.
To implement the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act (MFPLSMA), 2006, effectively, the department has started taking stringent action, such as prosecuting defaulters in courts. So far, the department has filed prosecution cases against over 70 owners for ignoring the act.
Of the 51 unsafe buildings, the department has sent recommendations to Orange City Water Limited and MSEDCL to disconnect power and water supply connections to 21 buildings. In two cases, city police stations have been instructed to take action.
