CUTTACK: Director General (DG) of Fire Service Binay Kumar Behera on Friday stressed on formulation of special rules in Fire Service Act to empower Fire Service Department for initiating instant action against hospitals, nursing homes and other commercial establishments violating fire safety measures.
Speaking to mediapersons after the review meeting held to sensitise fire personnel to combat and curb major fire mishaps, Behera said in other States like Delhi, the Fire Service Department can seal clinical and commercial establishments having inadequate fire safety measures. However, in Odisha, the Fire Service wing has no power to take instant action against fire safety violators, he said.
Besides, there is also a need for reformation of Clinical Establishment Act which has been derived from Factories and Broilers Act. This apart, there is lack co-ordination among all line departments which is necessary to check fire mishaps in clinical and commercial establishments, Behera said.
In the meeting, Fire Officers of all 30 districts were advised to conduct mock drills in different establishments such as hospitals, nursing homes, cinema halls and shopping malls in their respective areas.
The DG said the Fire Service Department has no details of the number of clinical establishments functioning in the State and their fire safety status. “We are planning to request Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET) to provide all details of such establishments,” he said.
Speaking about SUM Hospital fire mishap tragedy, the DG said the hospital authority informed the fire personnel about the blaze late by about 45 minutes. “Had they informed instantly, the number of casualty would have been less,” he added.Among others, IG, Fire Services Dr Santosh Bala, Chief Fire Officer Sukant Sethy, Fire Range Officers of Cuttack, Berhampur and Sambalpur and Assistant Fire Officers of all 30 districts were present in the meeting.