40 highrises face fire department heat for flouting safety norms

The fire department has found 23 highrises,residential and commercial complexes in the island city and 24 structures in suburbs which have violated the norms.

The department had sent over 250 notices to highrises,malls,residential and commercial complexes since March 2010. These structures were given a maximum notice of 120 days to comply with the safety norms,failing which they would be prosecuted under the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act,2006,which was enforced in March 2010.

Following another round of investigation,it was found that about 47 such buildings have not complied despite warnings and notices,said an official.

“Mostly it is highrises and residential complexes which violate the norms. Since licences of malls and multiplexes cannot be renewed if they do not not comply with the fire safety norms,they adhere to our warnings,” said officials. A team of about 60 officials from the fire department is suppose to inspect at least one building a week. Citing lack of manpower,officials said priority was given to highrises and taller residential complexes to check for non-compliance.

“Sometimes one loose wire in a circuit leads to a major fire,especially in highrises where there is concealed wiring and hi-tech decor and systems. Also,in some cases,plumbing,electrical wires etc which are installed in the buildings are not even approved on paper. Societies do not comply with fire safety norms thinking these are minor issues,” said officials.

The inspections were increased following major fires and accidents in the last few months in the city including the Goyal Shopping Centre fire,HDIL fire and Dadar flower market fire.

In March this year,a woman died in a fire in 17-storeyed Kanchanganga Building in the posh Four Bungalows area in Andheri. According to officials,a lift accident in a highrise in Matunga in December last year,which claimed six lives,raised concerns over fire safety norms in highrises.

According to the bi-annual report on fire in December last year,over 1,200 incidents were recorded in the six months from May 2010 to October 2010.