Hyderabad: The GHMC’s Enforcement Vigilance and Disaster Management wing is gearing up to take action on bars, pubs and restaurants for ignoring fire safety measures.
The city has about 750 authorised pubs, bars and restaurants and GHMC officials expect at least 500 more are being operated without licences and permissions
The corporation has decided to issue short notices to about 200 pubs that are yet to submit the fire safety application as prescribed by the civic body.
The corporation will seize more than 100 pubs after issuing a three-day notice to establishments that do not comply.
Obtaining a fire safety certificate is mandatory and any commercial establishment, pub, bar or restaurant cannot be run without it.
The move came in the wake of fire accidents in restaurants and hotels. In April, a fire broke out in Hotel Sitara Grand, LB Nagar, and the occupants managed to escape without any injuries.
This was followed by another accident in Central Court at Lakdikapul.
Till date, the GHMC has received about 550 applications from commercial establishment and the staff is verifying whether they have the prescribed fire safety measures.
The approximate cost of installing fire-fighting equipment over a 1,000-sq mt area ranges from Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000.
A fire safety certificate by the civic body is a must for all bars, pubs and restaurants with more than 50-seat capacity.
GHMC EVDM director Viswajit Kampati said the corporation staff will physically inspect all the places prior to issuing the certificate.
“After scrutinising the data, they will be asked to upgrade or install fire safety equipment as per the rules. Commercial establishments will be asked to rectify them in 15 days and the corporation will seize the place without any notice after this date. If owners do not apply for a fire safety certificate at the earliest, the corporation will seize the premises without any notice as the deadline has already ended on August 31,” he said.
Depending on the establishment’s capacity, they are supposed to install different fire safety equipment.
Emphasis will be laid on making sure that the staircase is free, facilitating free movement of occupants in case of an emergency. This apart, there should be fire extinguishers, water sprinklers, fire alarm systems, etc., he added.
Mr Kampati said the GHMC will start seizing commercial establishments by October end after issuing short notices to non applicants.
