No fire-fighting equipment? Fire dept can cut water supply

If you live in a high-rise building, you better ensure it has internal fire-fighting equipment in place. From next year, the Fire Department will have the power to disrupt supply of water and electricity to high-rises lacking such equipment, reports Bhavika Jain.

If you live in a high-rise building, you better ensure it has internal fire-fighting equipment in place.

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From next year, the Fire Department will have the power to disrupt supply of water and electricity to high-rises lacking such equipment.

The department is presently awaiting a notification under the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act 2006.

“The central government, state government and Vidhan Sabha have approved the Act,” said Chief Fire Officer Uday Tatkare. “It’s a matter of waiting for a notification so we can begin implementing the Act.”

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has written the director of the state government’s fire and emergency services, M.V. Deshmukh, and the civic body expects the notification within a month or two.

As part of the act, inspections will be carried out in high-rises every six months by competent authorities shortlisted by the BMC. “Depending on their experience, the qualification of their engineers and reputation, we will publish a list of approved contractors,” said Tatkare.

The equipment in the buildings will require varies from building to building, but overall entails fire extinguishers, a source of water, fire exits among other things.