Failing submission, recommendation to disconnect water and electricity supply to the buildings
Pic for representation
Pune: The city fire brigade has warned of action — disconnection of water or electricity supply — against buildings that ignore fire-safety measures and fail to submit the prescribed Form B twice a year.City fire brigade chief Ganesh Sonune told TOI, “The buildings will have to comply with the rules immediately. Our local fire stations will study the fire systems of these buildings and houses. If the building owners, trustees, societies or builders fail to submit Form B twice a year, we will recommend Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) authorities disconnect their water or electricity supply.”The fire brigade has appealed to houses, high-rise residential buildings, hospitals, malls, cinemas, theatres, hotels, educational institutions, commercial complexes and large commercial establishments in the city to keep their fire-fighting systems operational and in good condition.Under the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006, the owner or occupier of a building is responsible for providing fire-prevention and life-safety measures and keeping them functional at all times. For this purpose, it is mandatory to obtain a certificate in the prescribed format from a licensed agency and submit it to the chief fire officer or a designated officer. This certificate has to be submitted twice a year—in Jan and in July. Relevant buildings and establishments within the PMC limits should submit Form B in person at the office of the chief fire officer, central fire station, Mahatma Phule Peth.Owner, occupier responsible in case of accidentThe fire brigade has issued a clear warning that if Form B is not submitted within the prescribed period and a fire or other accident subsequently occurs in the concerned building, the entire responsibility will rest with the building owner or occupier or the society office.Action can also be taken against establishments found unsafe from the fire-safety point of view under the provisions of the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006. The fire brigade has clarified that the provisions include recommending disconnection of the water and electricity supply of the establishment concerned.Install fire-fighting systems immediately if not already doneBuildings where the required fire-fighting systems have not yet been installed should have them installed without delay through a licensed agency. The required certificate should thereafter be submitted to the fire brigade.
