THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Fire and Rescue Services authorities have stopped issuing clearances for multi-storeyed building permits, citing ill-equipped facilities to check fires in them.
As many as 60 applications were rejected by the authorities in the past one month. The department had long ago proposed buying sophisticated aerial lift for effective fire-fighting, but the government is yet to grant funds.
The new Commandant-General Mr Jacob Thomas has refused to grant no-objection certificate for buildings above 12 metres citing that the Fire and Rescue Services is ill-equipped to fight fires in the buildings. There is lack of sophisticated fire fighting equipment, including aerial ladders and sky lift.
A senior official said that the demand for sophisticated fire fighting equipment was long pending.
In the objection note, the commandant has given strict direction to the applicant to follow all life safety measures and take full responsibility of fire fighting and the life of the inhabitants in the building during emergencies.
If the applicants want to go ahead with the plan to build buildings above 12 metres, every life safety measure in National Building Code (Part IV and II) should be followed.
The builders feel that the commandant is taking such a stand because of a feud with the government over his new placement.
Secretary-general of CREDAI (Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India) S. N. Reghuchandran Nair said that the National Building Code had been misinterpreted by the Fire and Rescue authorities.
“We have taken up this issue with the Chief Minister and the Home Minister. No stakeholders’ meeting was held before imposing such restrictions and the builders are following all fire safety norms. This is totally unacceptable. There are so many high-rise buildings in the state which are above 12 metres and what would the fire authorities do if some emergency comes,” said Mr Reghuchandran Nair. It’s the responsibility of the department to ensure fire safety and equip it to deal with any emergencies, he added.
