Fire Department says its hands are tied

TIRUPATI: The fire department could only approach the court, but not take any other action in case of hospitals and other buildings not following fire safety norms, Tirupati station fire officer J Ramanaiah has said. According J Ramanaiah, they first take up inspection and suggest fire safety norms required for the building depending upon its height and area. After construction, they will make another inspection for issuing NOC if all the requirements are met.Notices will be served on violators, but the fire department is not given any powers to take direct action against them. Such powers are vested with the licensing authority, i.e. the district medical and health officer for hospitals and the district education officer for schools, who could cancel the license and close the establishment.If the licensing authorities insist on NOC from the fire department before issuing the nod to hospitals, schools, multi-storied buildings and cinemas, shopping malls etc., all the builders will fulfil the requirements. Otherwise, there will be no use issuing notices as we have no further powers to deal with them, explained a fire department official.Speaking to Express, the district fire officer E Swamy said they have issued a provisional NOC to CMC hospital, which is under construction in Chittoor rural mandal. But no NOC was issued to any other hospital, including government hospitals, in the district, he added. When asked about the delay in serving notices despite hospitals not fulfilling requirements, he said the department needs more staff. However, he was quick to add that the department would soon crack the whip.