TOWERING PROBLEMS: The high-rise buildings present a pleasing sight. But, how safe are they? — Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

VISAKHAPATNAM: A drive down the beach road between Naval Coastal Battery and Lawson's Bay makes locals and tourists look up in awe at the aesthetically designed multi-storeyed apartments.

Such high-rise buildings are no longer restricted to the city limits, as they have sprung up in suburbs like Madhurawada, Prahladapuram, Gopalapatnam, Kurmannapalem and almost everywhere.

The vertical expansion of the city began about two decades ago with the exponential rise in land prices as a result of severe constraints on land with burgeoning population.

The high-rise buildings, against the backdrop of the blue skyline, no doubt, provide an imposing sight. But, how safe are the residents of these buildings? This is the million- dollar question being raised by public. Officials of the Municipal Corporation brush aside this aspect saying apartment fires are a rarity in the city.

Mishaps strike without prior warning and it would be too late to repent after the occurrence of an accident.

Some of the high-rise buildings are potential danger zones with wires hanging out from the walls in the stairway and improperly finished interiors. An electrical short circuit or leakage of gas from an LPG cylinder in a kitchen can result in a fire causing tremendous destruction and loss of precious lives.

Building code

There are several fire safety rules that have to be scrupulously followed in the construction of high-rise buildings. However, these are more observed in breach by builders with civic officials being lackadaisical about the implementation of the rules.

According to the National Building Code of 1983, a multi- storeyed structure or a high-rise building is classified as one with a height of 15 metres and above. These buildings should invariably implement the code. These include a wet-raiser system, which is a pipeline connecting all the floors, yard hydrants on the outside walls at the four corners, a hose reel which is a 50-metre flexible pipe.

An underground static tank, which has a minimum capacity of 50,000 litres with 24-hour dedicated water supply, should be provided in addition to an exclusive water tank on the terrace

A survey of 100 apartment complexes in and around the city by the Fire Services Department reveals that many of them do not have the basic fire safety requirements.

MCV alerted

The department wrote a letter to the Municipal Corporation of Visakhapatnam (MCV) seeking action against the builders. It also recommended collection of fire safety fund from the occupants of each apartment complex.

Even in Government buildings where fire safety code is scrupulously followed and the requisite equipment is religiously installed, little care is taken to ensure their proper functioning and maintenance.

MCV officials claim that it is the duty of the Fire Services Department to ensure implementation of the fire safety rules. They also say that some of the builders seek permission for construction of four or three-storeyed buildings and later construct additional floors without informing the MCV.

``It is for the MCV to implement fire safety regulations as it is the licensing authority. We (Fire Services Department) only issue the no-objection certificate (NOC) on the site, subject to the condition that the licensing authority should ensure implementation of the fire safety rules before issuing occupancy certificate,'' says Divisional Fire Officer P.V. Ramana.

MCV officials should involve the fire services authorities in the inspection of buildings during various stages of construction but they are not even seeking the opinion of the Fire Services Department before issuing the occupancy certificate. The planning officials of the MCV conveniently blame the Fire Services Department for non-implementation of fire safety rules.

``As many as 10 to 15 fires mishaps acre occurring in apartments in and around the city every year. The maximum property loss is reported in high-rise buildings housing shops and commercial establishments,'' says Fire Officer Surendranath.

As the cold war between the two departments continues, builders of high-rise structures seem to have a gala time going on a construction spree, throwing all regulations to the winds.

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