Hosps get till May to ensure fire safety

Mumbai: In light of a recent inspection which revealed that adequate fire safety norms were not being observed in most major hospitals in the city, the state government said that action would be initiated against hospitals that do not make amends within a month and a half. 

    The civic fire department in December last year conducted an inspection soon after the fire tragedy in AMRI hospital in Kolkata that claimed the lives of 89 people. The department inspected 67 premises, including 41 private hospitals, 17 civic hospitals and nine state hospitals. 

    Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said on Wednesday that the civic department had issued notices to 33 of the 41 private hospitals. "The hospitals have been given time till May-end, when another audit will be conducted on the same premises. Strict action will be taken against the hospitals which do not rectify the wrongs," he said. 

    Opposition leader in the legislative council Vinod Tawde raised the issue of lack of fire safety in civic hospitals during question hour. "The inspection has also found reputable hospitals in the red. This is not acceptable. The state government has allotted plots at subsidized rates to such hospitals, granted high FSI, offered concessions in various taxes, including electricity and customs. It is expected of these hospitals to be fully equipped," he said. 

    Chavan admitted that norms laid down in Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures were not adequately followed in many hospitals. The chief minister also suggested that a similar problem existed in the case of nursing homes. He hinted at audits of and action against nursing homes and schools. 

    During the discussion, Congress member Ashok (Bhai) Jagtap demanded a change in the development control rules to tighten fire safety norms in the case of hospitals.