Buildings without passage for fire tenders to be sealed

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 31

Buildings above 67 ft, all over the state, that do not have a 15-ft corridor, all around, for allowing movement of fire tenders will be sealed after an ongoing review. This was stated by Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu while addressing a press conference here today.

The move comes in the wake of 14 deaths in a fire mishap at a pub in Mumbai where the fire exit was found to be blocked.

“The process has already commenced and we will compile a list of defaulters after a month. This will be followed by providing due chance to defaulters for making corrections failing which the buildings will be sealed,” the minister said.

Sidhu said the state would soon have a fire safety training centre and a Rs 500-crore plan had been submitted to Director General, Fire, Parkash Mishra for transforming fire services after a meeting earlier this week in New Delhi.

Besides, a separate project worth Rs 262.5 crore has been submitted to the Union Urban Development Ministry for upgradation of fire services.

“Small cities/towns which do not have space for parking fire tenders will be given space in police stations. Volunteer staff will be employed from among NCC cadets and other sources. Special fire safety suits will be provided,” Sidhu said.

Providing details of the project submitted to the Centre, Sidhu said Rs 270 crore would be earmarked for new fire stations; Rs 86 crore for aerial ladders; Rs 60 crore for advance rescue tender; Rs 18 crore for fire suits; Rs 20 crore for quick response vehicles; Rs 23 crore for training centre; Rs 5 crore for creating awareness regarding fire safety; Rs 3 crore for fire audit and Rs 5 crore for civil defence.

The minister added that he also got a favourable response from Union Minister of State for Urban Development Hardeep Puri to whom a separate project of Rs 262 crore had been submitted.