The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Time for Fire Service Act review?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 22, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Time for Fire Service Act review?

K.T. Sangameswaran

Increasing number of accidents calls for the re-examination of the legislation

CHENNAI: With four accidents taking place in fireworks units so far this year, claiming six lives, fire service authorities feel that the need of the hour is a thorough review of the relevant laws and rules, particularly the Tamil Nadu Fire Service Act.

Last year, there were six accidents in which seven persons died and 18 injured. All 10 accidents occurred in authorised fireworks factories. The highest number of casualties — five — was reported at Anuppangulam in Virudhunagar district on July 2, sources said.

At present, the role of the department is restricted to attending to fire calls and issuing a "no-objection certificate" for the structure put up in the fireworks units for the purpose of obtaining a licence. The cause of fire in four accidents is suspected to be lightning and short-circuit; abrasion is the source in three cases. The cause is under investigation in three cases, a senior official of the Directorate of Fire and Rescue Services (DFRS) said.

A major handicap for the DFRS is that the cause of fire in any accident is not officially communicated to it by the police to enable possible analysis and formulation of suitable measures.

"The changing fire scenario in our fast developing society calls for a more complex response and this will require a relook at the laws and rules as also their implementation. The Tamil Nadu Government is already seized of the matter.

A comprehensive Fire Service Act, bringing together the relevant provisions which are now scattered in various Acts, will shortly provide effective solutions to many of the challenges posed by our fast modernising society," Director of Fire and Rescue Services S.K. Dogra told The Hindu.

In fact, a thorough examination of "the existing legal provisions and rules relating to licensing, prosecution of violators and responsibility of a citizen to avoid negligent acts and to suggest remedial legal and rules amendments" was one of the issues referred to the Fire and Rescue Services Commission set up by the Tamil Nadu Government. The Commission has since submitted its report.

The objective behind the exercise is to reframe the laws and rules in such a manner that the Fire and Rescue Services Department can play its due role. As the Tamil Nadu Fire Service Act, 1985 is considered outdated, the Government has said that the legislation will be amended. One way of achieving this is to set up a committee to reexamine the Act, the sources said.

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