The Hindu : Front Page : Fire services notice to 21,000 buildings

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Tuesday, Oct 07, 2008
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Fire services notice to 21,000 buildings

A. Srivathsan

Asks owners why they did not obtain NOC
Officers to inspect if buildings meet fire safety norms

Chennai: About 21,000 buildings in Chennai have been issued notices asking the owners to show cause why they had not obtained the ‘no objection certificate’ from the Tamil Nadu Fire & Rescue Services (TNFRS).

K.R. Shayamsundar, Director, TNFRS told The Hindu that the owners of the buildings had been asked to reply to the notice enclosing a copy of licence issued, the blue print of planning permission and the list of fire equipment available on their premises. TNFRS officers will inspect these buildings and if found wanting in terms of fire safety, the licensing authority concerned would be asked to cancel the licence and the TNFRS on its part would take action including prosecution.

Saravana Stores on Ranganathan Street, the building that was gutted last month, in reply to the show cause notice issued by the TNFRS has stated that since the building was constructed before February 1999, action with respect to violation of any building rules will not be applicable. February 1999 is the High Court directed cut off date for regularising building violations in Chennai.

The TNFRS, meanwhile, demanded Saravana Stores owners to submit a copy of the licence obtained from the authority concerned and a copy of the approved plan. Mr.Shyamsundar told The Hindu that when the TNFRS checked with the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), it was found that Saravana Stores had not obtained planning permission. Action would be taken as per rules, he said.

The TNFRS has, so far, issued show cause notice to more than 50,000 buildings in Tamil Nadu for not obtaining the ‘no objection certificate’ from the TNFRS. Mr. Shyamsundar clarifies that it is issued free of cost and where needed, the TNFRS is willing to offer free consultation to improve fire fighting measures in buildings. He added that the TNFRS recently impressed upon small scale industries to take adequate precautions with regard to fire fighting.

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