Kolkata effect: Nodal officer to monitor safety at 5 MCD hospitals

Keeping in mind the deadly fire at Kolkata’s AMRI Hospitals last year, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is planning to augment fire-fighting system and disaster management facilities in its hospitals and dispensaries.

Keeping in mind the deadly fire at Kolkata’s AMRI Hospitals last year, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is planning to augment fire-fighting system and disaster management facilities in its hospitals and dispensaries.

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The civic agency will create separate posts for administrative officer (security) for its five hospitals. It feels that separate specialised administrative posts are needed to avert such tragedies. The MCD House approved a proposal in this regard on Monday.

The administrative officers will be deployed in Bara Hindu Rao Hospital, Swami Dayanand Hopsital, Kasturba Gandhi Hospital, Rajan Babu TB Hospital and Maharishi Balmiki Hospital, while the post of a director has been created for all MCD-run allopathic dispensaries. He will be the in-charge of the dispensaries.

“There is no definite security arrangement in the hospitals and dispensaries being run by the MCD. If any tragedy takes place, it may invite severe criticism for the agency. Hence, the resolution regarding the administrative medical security in MCD hospitals must be approved,” said the proposal passed by the House.

The MCD’s works committee in its budget proposals for 2012-13 has focused on installing fire safety equipment in its institutions. The committee, which approved a Rs 1,441.22-crore proposal, has made provisions of fire safety equipment in its schools, zonal buildings and parking sites. For hospitals, separate plans will be made.