As of now, only 1,500 housing societies from across Mumbai have participated in the drive started by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to check and update fire safety measures at each of the buil
As of now, only 1,500 housing societies from across Mumbai have participated in the drive started by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to check and update fire safety measures at each of the buildings. To accelerate the process, the fire brigade will now pick housing societies at random and conduct audits on their premises. If they are found to be non-compliant, a notice will be sent to the chairman or secretary, with a fixed time period for compliance. Beyond this period, action will be taken against the housing society as per the rules of the Maharashtra Fire Safety Act. About six months ago, the BMC started a drive to update the fire safety measures at all housing societies in the city and had invited applications from them.
Following the interest shown by the housing society to participate in the drive, the fire brigade would inspect the premises of the buildings and suggest primary or additional safety measures. However, this process did not involve taking action against the housing societies for non-compliance.
Additional municipal commissioner Sanjay Deshmukh said, “Not many came forward.”
As part of the second phase of this plan, 70 officials of the fire brigade would be given tabs with a special software installed in them. P. Rahangdale, chief fire officer, said, “We are planning to digitise the whole process of linking evidence to the notices we plan to send to non-complying housing societies.”
