Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) report
Mains level: Laws and guidelines for fire safety in buildings;
Why in the News?
Recent fire tragedies at a Rajkot gaming zone and a Delhi children’s hospital that killed 40 people highlight the urgent need for stricter fire safety enforcement.
According to the latest Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) report
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What are the various laws and guidelines which stipulate rules around fire safety in buildings?
- National Building Code (NBC): Published by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in 1970, last updated in 2016.
- Part 4 of NBC is about the details of fire safety measures, including construction guidelines, materials, and safety protocols. They are mandatory for states to incorporate NBC recommendations into local buildings.
- Model Building Bye Laws 2016: It is issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. It guides States/UTs in framing building bylaws with norms for fire protection and safety.
- State Fire Services Act: Fire services are a state subject, and individual states have their own Fire Services Acts or building bylaws.
- National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Guidelines: Provide fire safety instructions for homes, schools, and hospitals. Include recommendations on maintaining safety spaces, exit mechanisms, dedicated staircases, and evacuation drills.
Key Points from Fire Safety Regulations by Government:
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Challenges in Fire Safety Compliance
- Lack of Uniform Legislation: Fire safety rules exist in all States, with many drawing from the NBC. However, due to the absence of uniform safety legislation and the NBC being a “recommendatory document,“ its provisions are frequently ignored at the local level.
- Inadequate Fire Safety Audits: Local bodies fail to conduct regular fire safety checks, leading to non-compliance.
- Staff Shortages: Insufficient staffing in fire departments exacerbates enforcement issues.
- Community Awareness and Preparedness: Need for better community awareness and training on fire safety protocols and emergency response.
Judicial responses to negligence over Public Safety
- Apex Court: The Judiciary has frequently pulled up state authorities for failure to enforce fire safety regulations. It highlighted the laxity in compliance and the need for stringent enforcement.
- Legal Actions: Cases like the Rajkot gaming zone fire reveal the consequences of not adhering to fire safety norms. Courts have mandated regular fire safety audits and strict adherence to NBC guidelines.
- The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) emphasized the need for building community resilience and compliance with safety norms.
- The report on “Fires in India: Learning Lessons for Urban Safety” underscored the failure of authorities to learn from past tragedies and enforce fire safety measures.
Way forward:
- Building some National Standards: The National Building Code (NBC) needs to be converted from a recommendatory document to a mandatory standard across all states.
- Regular Inspections: Mandate regular and frequent fire safety audits by local authorities.
- Transparent Assessment: Allow third-party certified agencies to conduct independent fire safety audits to ensure unbiased assessments.
Mains PYQ:
Q Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster management by the Government of India departing from the earlier reactive approach. (UPSC IAS/2020)
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