Telangana plans tougher fire safety norms, including jail terms and fines, alongside simplified water pollution control procedures. (Representative Image)

Hyderabad: The Telangana government is set to issue two ordinances to amend the Telangana Fire Services Act, 1999 and adopt the amended provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, after the state Cabinet cleared the proposals on Thursday and referred them to the Governor for approval.

Official sources said the proposed Fire Services Act amendments seek stringent penalties for violations, particularly those resulting in loss of life. A person whose negligent act causes a death in a fire accident will face up to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 lakh. Those endangering life or personal safety will face up to six months’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh. A similar punishment has been proposed for anyone removing, tampering with or breaking the seal of electrical equipment.

The amendments make both owners and occupiers responsible for providing and maintaining prescribed fire safety measures. The Director-General of Fire Services will be empowered to declare buildings unsafe, issue notices and seal them. At present, such powers are largely vested with municipal authorities.

Residential welfare associations, owners or occupiers failing to appoint a fire safety manager will also face penalties. The DG Fire Services can impose a fine of Rs 50,000 on a welfare association for every month of default and take action against owners who fail to comply with safety measures.

The government has proposed a Fire Prevention and Life Safety Fund under the DG Fire Services. Fees, penalties and other amounts collected under the Act will be credited to the fund and used for firefighting equipment, infrastructure and training. It has also proposed a fire tax on citizens on the lines of property tax collected by civic bodies.

Buildings will be categorised into three groups based on fire risk and licensing requirements. Category A buildings will require a no-objection certificate from the Fire Services Department, Category B buildings a fire safety certificate and Category C buildings only self-certification. The categories will be notified separately by the government.

Buildings outside Category A will have to obtain fire safety certificates from qualified fire and life safety auditors, certifying compliance with prescribed fire prevention, protection and life safety measures. Existing buildings will be given one year to obtain the certificate, which will have to be renewed periodically. Violations will attract prosecution.

The second ordinance relates to implementation of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024, enacted by Parliament to simplify regulatory procedures and strengthen the water pollution control framework. The Cabinet resolved to implement the amended provisions in Telangana from this month.

Under the new framework, minor procedural lapses relating to water pollution will no longer automatically be treated as criminal offences. The process of obtaining permissions from the Telangana Pollution Control Board for industries will also be simplified through a single portal with a prescribed time limit.

The amendments seek to reduce regulatory hurdles for industries while retaining safeguards against the discharge of hazardous trade effluents, agricultural runoff and domestic sewage into water bodies.

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