In India, construction activity has increased significantly during the past 20 years, particularly for high-rise structures. Due to their unusual character, residential building fires, especially those in high-rise buildings, become more complex and difficult to salvage, sometimes even ending in several fatalities and significant property losses. The situation has become more difficult as a result of India's industry's fast modernization. Fire safety awareness had not been very widespread.
According to the provisions of Article 243W of the Indian Constitution, fire services are covered under the Twelfth Schedule. Municipalities are responsible for carrying out the duties outlined in the Twelfth Schedule. In India, regular fire protection was first introduced about 215 years ago. The first city to offer the service was Bombay in 1803, and then it was introduced in Calcutta in 1822, Delhi in 1867, and Madras in 1908. According to a study issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 1997, there are 1754 fire stations across India that are operational, along with 5149 fire apparatus and trucks and 50,730 fire personnel.
In addition to the ones mentioned above, there were 278 trailer-built fire stations that served just industrial sectors. The Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Strengthening of Fire and Emergency Services in the Country was approved by the Government in 2009 at an anticipated cost of Rs. 200 crores during the Eleventh Plan Period, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs Annual Report for 2009–2010.
The State Governments will also pay their part of Rs. 40.23 crores. The Scheme's overarching goal is to enhance the nation's fire and emergency services and gradually transform them into a Multi-Hazard Response Force that can function as the first responder in all kinds of emergency situations. In accordance with the Plan, District Headquarter Fire Brigades around the nation will receive an extra 277 Advanced Fire Tenders, 1,146 High Pressure Pumps with Water Mist Technology, 573 Vehicles for Quick Response Teams, and 1,146 Multi-Purpose Rescue Tools. The Ministry of Home Affairs has made the decision to conduct a Fire Risk and Hazard Analysis in the nation to determine the actual requirement of firefighting and rescue equipment.
Currently, the relevant States and Union Territories organize fire prevention and firefighting services. The fire brigades in India continue to be varied in character, and the majority of them continue to be underequipped and irregularly organized. The National Building Code (NBC), which is India's fundamental model code for issues pertaining to building construction and fire safety in the state, is responsible for fire protection and prevention. State governments bear the majority of the responsibilities for fire safety and prevention. State regulations or municipal bylaws may lay out the regulations for fire safety and prevention.
Legal Provisions:
The Bureau of Indian Standards is the publisher of the National Building Code. NBC's first edition was released in 1970. 1983, 1987, and 1997 saw revisions to this edition. NBC's second edition was released in 2005. In 2016, the third edition of the NBC was released, incorporating the most recent advancements in the nation's construction operations.
The basic goal of NBC is to describe actions that will offer a level of fire safety that is realistically achievable and practical. The Code requires adherence to the very minimum fire safety requirements for building users and occupants. It is preferable to employ fire protection equipment and installations that have been properly certified under the BIS Certification Marks Scheme to ensure compliance with the established quality requirements.
The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 went into force on December 1 in the state, and drivers will now be fined Rs 10,000 for failing to yield the right-of-way to emergency vehicles like the fire department or ambulance.
It is possible to target Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment (HIRA) to find potential risks. A thorough fire safety audit can address the inherent fire risks connected to regular operations in an occupation and suggest actions to lessen the potential fire risks. Fire Safety Audits should be made mandatory for all of India in order to lower the number of fire occurrences, and the audit job should be given to third-party agencies with the necessary knowledge. Every year, a fire safety audit should be performed in every occupation.
In case of blocking the road for fire brigade vehicles, it is advisable to consult a lawyer. If the cause of action is in Delhi then Criminal Lawyers In Delhi should be consulted. Likewise, Criminal Lawyers In Lucknow should be consulted if the cause of action is in Lucknow. If the cause of action is in Gurgaon then a Criminal Lawyer In Gurgaon should be consulted.
You can also contact Lead India for taking advice and appointing lawyers. You can ask a legal question while seeking free legal advice. You can talk to a lawyer here.
Visit Us: - https://www.leadindia.law
Call Us: - +91-8800788535
Email: care@leadindia.law
Facebook: - https://www.facebook.com/leadindialaw
LinkedIn: - https://www.linkedin.com/company/76353439
Twitter: - https://twitter.com/leadindialaw
Pinterest: - https://in.pinterest.com/lawleadindia
Instagram: -https://www.instagram.com/leadindialawofficial
Comments