With health care sector almost in sync with fire safety norms, Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) focus is on commercial and large buildings to adhere with fire safety norms.
It has been six month since the fire in the paediatric ICU unit killed infants in Kamla Nehru hospital. As for the health department, the directive to get a NoC from Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC). The UADD order was not limited to hospitals and health care sector. The ambit of the order is vast to include, hotels, institutions and large commercial establishments. It goes far enough to demand a fire safety officer in large institutions or buildings.
“Most of new constructions are in line with guidelines. Business operations of the unorganised sector in areas such as Kabadh Khana are now the focus,” said BMC fire safety officer, Rameshwar Neel.
National building code which includes safety norms directs for installation of fire safety
infrastructure. All the 225 private hospitals and nursing homes in Bhopal submitted their fire safety certification after a extensive drive, according to sources.
The larger issue is training and maintenance of the equipment. Urban development experts in the past have pointed out that there are no provisions for penalty as MP fire safety Act has not been amended by the Vidhan Sabha.
Fire safety requirements as per National Building code of India 2016, do not constitute of penalty as the MP does not have a Fire Safety Act.
Current provisions and regulations for fire service management has not been made under Municipal Corporation Act, 1956. It envisages that the Commissioner shall make regulations. However, regulations for fire service management have not been made by ULBs, according to experts.