Home dept mulls new fire safety regulations

The home department is mulling to frame specific fire safety rules for all business establishments dealing with inflammable products, including bars and restaurants.

The department feels the new rules are necessary since there is currently ambiguity over which agency would act against the violators.

"It would require all business establishments dealing with inflammable products to get approval from the fire department that they have complied with safety regulations," DGP, Fire and Emergency Services, M N Reddy told DH.  

Since the department has to deal with thousands of such establishments in the state, it is necessary to study how other states and countries deal with fire issues, Reddy added.

Presently, the fire and emergency services department issues No objection Certificates only to bars and restaurants with a high footfall, functioning above 15 m in high-rise buildings. Those functioning below the 15-metre mark get their liquor licence from the excise department and trade licences from the BBMP.

In most cases, therefore, the fire department cannot cancel licences issued by other agencies if they are found in breach of safety norms, and can only recommend such an action to the authorities concerned.

Even if such a recommendation was made, sources said the excise department must escalate the issue to the deputy commissioner (revenue), who is the licensing authority.

As for the BBMP, its trade licences are issued when an establishment produces NoCs from food safety, fire safety and Bescom. They have to coordinate with all the agencies if they want to alter the status of a licence.

The complications have allowed establishments in the city to bend safety rules at will. Sources added that the new rules will bring greater clarity in acting against violating businesses.