AMC asked to take action on fire-safety

In his affidavit filed in the Gujarat High Court, chief secretary L N S Mukundan has submitted that lie has asked Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner K Kailasnathan to work out an action plan for installing fire-safety systems in all high-rises within 18 months.

Mukundan’s affidavit was filed after a division bench comprising Justice B C Patel and Just ice D A Mehta asked him to explain why several high-rises sans
fire-Safety systems were allowed to be occupied. The court had slammed
the State government for paying lip-service to the laws on fire-safety in high-rises,

The court had also sought explanation on the same issue from Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) chief Surendra Patel. The Municipal Commissioner, on the other hand, was asked to explain why illegal buildings were given water and drainage connections.

Mukundan pointed out that the State government had directed AUDA to implement High Court orders on fire-safety issue and to enforce them in the stipulated time. Besides, the State government on November 14 last year had directed AUDA and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation to take action against those builders, architects and engineers who do not comply with the court directives.

The chief secretary also explained that it was due to the earthquake that the authorities were busy dealing with the situation and that was perhaps why tin action was taken on the fire-safety issue during the past three months.

He also submitted. that lie held a meeting on April 21 and had drawn the attention of AUDA and AMC officials regarding the court direction on fire-Safety issue. He submitted that the AMC’s action plan would be submitted to the Court.

About fire-safety systems in government buildings in the city, lie submitted that it would he done by the third week of May.

There are about a dozen buildings in the city which belong to the State government. The next hearing will be on April 30.

Republished from Indian Express