The Times of India                17.06.2013

Rs 1.46 cr for fire safety measures in buildings

NASHIK: The general body meeting (GBM) of the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Saturday gave approval to the proposal of the fire department of the civic body to upgrade the prevention and safety measures at select civic-run offices, hospitals and halls as per the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006, at a cost of Rs 1.46 crore.

The fire department of the NMC has completed the audit of its own office buildings in the city to meet the fire safety measures.

The civic administration tabled five separate proposals totally worth Rs 1.46 crore to upgrade the prevention and safety measures at its seven select office buildings, including three hospitals and two auditoriums in the city. The proposals were approved by the civic body at the GBM on Saturday.

According to the proposals, the NMC headquarters at the Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, Dadasaheb Gaikwad hall, Kalidas Kala Mandir, divisional office of new Cidco, Dr Zakir Hussain hospital (Kathada), Jijamata maternity home (Old Nashik) and Indira Gandhi maternity home (Panchavati) are to be equipped with fire safety norms as per height, location and occupancy.

The state government had passed a bill in July 2006, making it mandatory for municipal corporations to provide fire prevention and life safety measures in different types of buildings.

It said that sophisticated equipment and appliances for effectively controlling and extinguishing fires occurring in such buildings will have to be installed, along with well-trained staff for handling them.

The cost of installing the upgraded system at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan has been estimated at Rs 33.69 lakh, Rs 20.95 lakh for Dadasaheb Gaikwad hall, Rs 13.79 lakh for Cidco divisional office, Rs 25.71 lakh for Kalidas Kala Mandir and Rs 51.98 lakh for all three hospitals. - Dr Zakier Hussain hospital (Kathada), Jijamata maternity home (Old Nashik) and Indira Gandhi Maternity Home (Panchavati).

Fire detection and alarm systems, fire fighting equipment including hose reels and fire extinguishers and other such equipment are to be installed at the office buildings of the NMC.