The New Indian Express           30.10.2013

The state government’s new order to renew No Objection Certificate
(NOC) issued by the local bodies every year for building construction is
yet to take off in the city. Though the order was issued two months
ago, the practicality of implementing the order is causing delay.

Confirming the fact, the Kochi Corporation officials said that they
have not received any notification from the Fire and Rescue Service
Department which is supposed to undertake the preliminary inspection of
the buildings.     Earlier, the party had to obtain a NOC from the
authorities concerned but as per the new rule, the parties have to
approach the Fire and Rescue Service Department when the latter
intimates them about the inspection and renew their NOC. The sources
with the Fire and Rescue Service Department said that though they have
sent intimations to many, most have asked for a 30- day time.

“Seeking more time is definitely to put off the inspection for the
process only needs a maximum of three days. The party has to pay a fees
of `2,000. After submitting the necessary documents, they need to fix a
date with us to undertake the inspection,” they said.

The sources noted that many buildings are operating without the
necessary requirements and would need to make changes if the order is
executed. Besides, there is lobby to ensure that everything is available
when the Fire and Rescue Service team arrives for the inspection. The
lobby would keep everything ready in the building only to be removed
and  shifted to other buildings. Though we know about it, action cannot
be taken against them as we do not have concrete details. In such a
scenario, it would be foolish to think that people will comply with the
new directive,” they pointed out.

 Kochi Corporation Secretary P M Francis confirmed that they did not
get any tip-off by the Fire and Rescue Service Department. “Considering
their negligible strength, it is a Herculean task to inspect all the
buildings in the city. They do not have enough men to tackle emergency
situations and this additional task is a burden on them,” he said.

 To give an NOC for a building, huge tanks should be set up both
above and below the building and it should be ensured that water reaches
all the floors. A sprinkler system should be in place to address fire
mishaps as it would operate on its own and spray water to extinguish the
fire. A smoke detector would detect the presence of smoke in the
building. Life escape stairs and roads leading to these buildings are a
prerequisite. “It is an open secret that most of the buildings are
operating without these prerequisites and if any building has them, it
must have been there only during the inspection,” they pointed out.

 However, Abdul Rasheed, Assistant divisional officer, refuted it and
said “It is wrong to say that the directive is not implemented. We have
send notifications to many and few of them have already responded.”