If one feels that scary inferno originating from a roof top restaurant is limited only to Mumbai, then he is playing with fire! Hotels, restaurants, party places and cozy lounges in the State Capital, often registering higher footfalls during the year end, are operating dangerously and function in even worse condition.
Surprising to hear that only two out of over 50 such amusement destinations scattered in nooks and corners of the Capital city have acquired the much needed no-objection certificates (NOC) from the competent authority.
“We have right now issued NOC to only to Hotel Radisson Blu and Hotel le lac in Ranchi. None of the others operating here have either ever sought for the certificate from us or have been given. The situation is very alarming indeed and the pubic places are operating only with bhagwan bharose,” revealed State Fire Safety Officer Ram Krishna Thakur.
The situation is so when many places are located in tight corners and by-lanes of the city making it extremely difficult for a fire tender to attend the call of emergency by reaching the place of incident in time. “We are aware that most of the hotels are in the narrow lanes where our vehicles could not enter. But the Department cannot act on its own,” he added further.
lack of regulation has left the hotels and restaurants out of the safety net of fire services and instead made those dependent on their own measures which are very conveniently overlooked.
“We have set up our own system to deal with any untoward situation. Water tanks and pipes are in place at all the desired locations and staffs are given training about how to deal with emergency fire situation,” said a manager of Hotel BNR Chanakya.
This may be case for few larger establishments like BNR Chanakya or Hotel Capitol Hill but is certainly not a common feature at smaller places. When contacted, a pub cum hotel situated at busy Main Road could not verify when its fire safety equipments were last examined and renewed.
“We have installed the gas cylinders when the pub was started about five-six years ago. Since those have not been used so far, there is no need to replace or refill the bottles,” said a managerial staff in a casual manner while the place was getting ready for the New Year night blast.
Shocking! Only two hotels have fire NOCs in RanchiBesides the State Fire Safety Department, Ranchi Municipal Corporation is the other authority that deals with fire safety regulations. “But our role is limiting only to approve building plan with fire safety norms at the very beginning. Once the plan is approved, it is the Fire Department that issues NOC approving continuation of the mechanism,” said RMC official Naresh Sinha.
Nonetheless a silver lining is seen in the step taken by the Department. “We have recently formulated Jharkhand Fire Safety Act and the draft has been forwarded to the Government for its nod. Once it comes into force, it will permit the Department to issue notice, take penal action for violations, lodge FIR, declare buildings unsafe and even seal if found violating the set fire safety norms. Right now we are not capable of doing that and can act once a complaint is lodged. We would need no permission to act if the Act is in place,” said Ram Krishna Thakur.
Till then enjoy the party and thank the God!