Fire Department asks government schools, colleges to obtain NOCs

CHANDIGARH:In view of gross fire safety violations in government schools and colleges in the city, the Fire and Emergency Services Department has written to the Director Public Instructions (DPI-Schools) to ask the entire 114 government schools and seven government colleges to do fire safety audit and obtain no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the department at the earliest.

Sandeep Rana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 20

In view of gross fire safety violations in government schools and colleges in the city, the Fire and Emergency Services Department has written to the Director Public Instructions (DPI-Schools) to ask the entire 114 government schools and seven government colleges to do fire safety audit and obtain no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the department at the earliest.

Officials said there has always been a focus on government schools and colleges but they were left out. Now, the Fire Department officials want that these institutes should be asked to adhere to fire safety norms in view of the safety of students.

“We inspected government schools and colleges. We found out a number of discrepancies. Now, we have written to the DPI to ask the institutes to obtain the NOCs from the department,” said Station Fire Officer (SFO) SK Gosain.

Some of the institutions have started approaching the department to know about the process.

As per the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), there should be adequate fire extinguishers in the complex. Schools should be given licence after checking up its safety. Schools must have sufficient exit routes. Teachers should have training in fire safety, students should be made aware about dos & don’ts, schools should have an emergency plan and put up fire notices, keep electrical inspection and testing up to date and carry out repairs, check adequacy of fire fighting apparatus and its maintenance, ensure fire exit doors and first aid kits.

However, almost all of the above listed directions have been found missing in the schools thus putting lives of students in danger.

It is pertinent to mention that the department concerned had earlier served fire safety violation notices to 250 coaching institutes in the city.

Of 250 coaching institutes, 60 have submitted applications after the compliance. However, it is yet to be checked by the officials whether these institutes have fulfilled all the norms.

The remaining institutes would be served another notice before starting the process of attaching their property.