Malls and supermarkets which are not adhering to fire safety norms of Fire and Emergency Services Department will now come under scanner.
Speaking to Express, director of the department, B G Changappa said they would issue notices to commercial establishments like malls and shops in the wake of a fire accident in Indiranagar on Friday.
“We are in the process of re-examining safety norms in commercial establishments which are more than 15 metres above the ground.
All those violating the norms will be issued notices and will be given time to fall in line. If they fail to do so, we will take up the issue with the Corporations,” Changappa said.
The house, where the mishap took place on Friday, was above Reliance Fresh supermarket in Indiranagar.
Experts said with many residential pockets in the city being converted into commercial locations, certain norms had been violated. “Areas like Koramangala and Indiranagar are being commercialised.
Each building is allocated a certain quantity of power, but when the building changes from residential to commercial set up, power requirements should change. It is the negligence of building owners who do not upgrade their fire safety equipment as per new requirements.
Since these buildings have not upgraded their equipment to fight fire, they cannot deal with mishaps like even short circuit,” said Shrinivas Rao, CEO, Vestian Global Workplace Services.
According to a recent survey by real estate intelligence firms, almost 90 per cent of buildings, in which fire accidents take place, do not adhere to norms.
Since the Carlton Towers inferno two years ago, the department has not been able to conduct any re-examinations or issue notices to violators.
“We are short-staffed and with the present strength, we have to file documents, issue NOCs, handle fire emergencies and also do some administration work. We have been writing to the government asking to sanction more posts.”