Disaster management

Periodic checks, audits to render high-rises in Bangalore fire-proof

Srikanth Hunasavadi / DNA

Bangalore: The state government has decided to bring in sweeping changes in the fire safety rules to prevent tragedies like the one that occurred at Carlton Towers on Airport Road three months ago. All high-rise buildings will be subject to inspections periodically, and their compliance with fire safety norms will be audited. Penal action will be taken against those found violating the rules.

The Karnataka Municipality Act will be amended. “We are preparing a draft bill on fire safety auditing in the high-rise buildings, which will be introduced in the coming legislative session,” home minister VS Acharya said, adding, “We have learnt lessons from Carlton Towers and other recent incidents. At present, once buildings get the occupancy certificate, there are no further checks. The new rules will make it mandatory for fire department officials to re-audit fire safety measures. There will be provisions for periodic and also surprise visits. Special officers will be appointed for this.”

Fire fighting capabilities too would be augmented. “This year, we are planning to set up 25 more fire stations across the state; 31 new modern fire fighting vehicles will be purchased. We will add manpower. We plan to purchase sky lifts and other equipment,” the home minister said.

Children too will not find themselves out of the ambit of the state’s fire fighting mechanism. DGP fire and emergency services, Jija Madhavan Harisingh said, “Last year, the Supreme Court directed that measures for fire safety be strictly enforced in all schools. Hence we are trying to create awareness among the children too.”

Fire Safety: Preventive steps

Fire stations in all taluks: Acharya

CHAMARAJANAGAR: Home Minister V.S. Acharya has said that work on fire and emergency services stations is on in all taluks and sub-centres in the State.

He was speaking after inaugurating a fire and emergency services station and residential quarters built at a cost of Rs. 1.71 crore at Hanur in Kollegal taluk on Tuesday.

He said 158 fire stations were functioning in the State and 40 more stations would be opened.

He said steps would be taken to construct fire stations at Kollegal and Yelandur if sites were provided.

It was the responsibility of every individual to maintain communal harmony and peace in the State, he said.

Dr. Acharya said steps would be taken to utilise Rs. 300 crore additional funds allocated by the Chief Minister to modernise the Home Department. (The Hindu)

Lessons to be learnt

Background: Fire at Bangalore's Carlton Towers: Bangalore, Feb 23: A massive fire has hit the third floor of the Carlton Towers in Bangalore, killing three and trapping many office goers around the peak office hours this evening. At least five people may have died in the Carlton Towers since they jumped out from the fifth and sixth floors of their office building in Bangalore on Tuesday. Survivors were treated at Manipal Hospital...

There are lessons to be learnt...

About fire safety:

=Respect existing guidelines, rather than considering fire safety norms as "harassment"

=Equipment in buildings as per norms

=Mock exercises / drills to be performed routinely by all establishments

About public response:

=Avoid unnecessary crowding at disaster sites/ roads in the vicinity: your curiosity may delay of the transport of victims to hospital

=Be a volunteer to donate blood/ identify victims/ help in crowd control

About the role of the media

=To avoid crowding at the "rescue areas" at the site of disaster/ "treatment areas" in the hospital, respect privacy of the victims

=Spread information on the victims/ helplines

=Spread awareness about fire fighting devices to be used by individuals, fire safety drills

=Investigative journalism to bring out the facts on "unpreparedness of high rise buildings" on fire safety

=Positive coverage for the selfless service by Fire & Emergency services

Related story: Lessons to be learnt regarding terror attacks

Update 10.01.2010

Boost for Fire & Emergency Services

BANGALORE: An estimated Rs 6.41 crore will be spent on revamping fire and emergency services in the state, over the next three years, as part of the Centre-mooted Rs 200 crore country-wide initiative for “strengthening and modernising” these services.

Home Minister V S Acharya on Wednesday said a Central grant of Rs 5.13 crore is available for the state, which will pitch in Rs 1.28 crore to the plan, which involves a cost-sharing ratio of 70:30. Fifty one new fire stations, sanctioned in 2005, are expected to be functional before 2011, Acharya said. He said that this year, the finance department has also sanctioned direct recruitment of 1,854 personnel for the existing vacancies. The break up is 45 station officers, 137 driver-technicians, 313 drivers and 1359 fire fighters.

All for a safer world...

(TOI) BANGALORE: Bursting of crackers will not be an easy affair from next Diwali. The government is mulling over ideas to prevent accidental injuries and pollution caused by crackers during festivals and public functions. "It is an irony that recently many people lost vision during the festival of lights. We thought we should urgently do something to address the problem," law minister S Suresh kumar told reporters on Monday. Kumar, who held a high-level meeting with home minister V S Acharya and medical education minister Ramachandra Gowda, said they decided to constitute a committee to suggest solutions. The panel comprising senior policemen and officials from the Fire Force, law department, health department and the Pollution Control Board, has been asked to submit recommendations in a fortnight. "Whatever be the recommendations, we will frame rules in a such way that it doesn't kill the spirit of festivals," he added. The government will also soon embark on an awareness campaign in schools by screening films on the dangers of bursting crackers. Quoting statistics, Kumar said around 15,000 persons sustain injuries in the country during Diwali, of whom 300 lose sight. Most of the victims are children and innocent passers-by, he added. Quoting another study, the minister said Diwali rockets cause the greatest harm as they rupture the eyeball. Sparklers, otherwise considered safe, have also caused some serious damage, Kumar added. Putting forth one of his own ideas, the minister said the government can identify silent zones and the use of crackers should be completley resitricted there. "We can also organize fireworks at designated open grounds so that people collectively enjoy the spectacle," he added. If necessary, he said, the committee will be allowed to study laws governing bursting of crackers in the US and UK and analyze their applicability to Karnataka. The minister maintained that the government has no qualms in putting a restraint on bursting crackers at political functions.
Diwali without fireworks? Community Fireworks: a safe, pollution reducing option?

Diwali is the festival of lights, not the festival of noise. Unless you belong to the Dinosaur age, you are aware of this. Why not live up to the name and do up your home with lovely earthen diyas strewn all around? How about a beautiful rangoli at the entrance of your home? If you're extremely busy there are Rangoli stickers available in the market but there's nothing better than adding some colour with your own hands. Do it and let the compliments flow! Absolutely can't imagine Diwali festivities without bursting a single cracker? Since crackers create a lot of waste as well as pollution, one good idea to reduce it is to have a community fireworks show in your colony or housing estate, instead of everyone going for it individually. Another great and fast catching option is noiseless crackers. With children and parents becoming eco-friendly, there's a high demand for colourful fireworks which can emit several types of colours without the ear splitting boom. There's quite a range available in soundless crackers, from ground crackers like the 'Chakras' or 'spinning wheels' to rockets that dart towards the sky and explode noiselessly into hundreds of brightly coloured stars. Isn't that a delightful sight for the eyes without disturbing anybody? Similarly smokeless crackers are also available in the market. (Reshmi Chakraborty)

07.09.2009: Development activities...

ಗೌರಿ ಗಣೇಶ ಹಬ್ಬದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು

ವಿಘ್ನ ನಾಶಕ್ಕೆ, ದುಷ್ಟರ ದಮನಕ್ಕೆ

"ಪೋಲಿಸ್ ಗಣಪ"

ಸಂಭ್ರಮ, ಶಾಂತಿ , ಸೌಹಾರ್ದಯುತ , ಗೌರಿ ಗಣೇಶ ಹಬ್ಬದ ಆಚರಣೆಗಾಗಿ, ಪೋಲಿಸ್, ಗೃಹ ರಕ್ಷಕ ದಳ,ಅಗ್ನಿಶಾಮಕ ದಳದವರಿಗೆ ಸಹಕಾರ ನೀಡಿ.

ಈ ಆವೇ ಮಣ್ಣಿನ ಕಲಾಕೃತಿ ಗೃಹ ಸಚಿವರ ಗೃಹ ಕಚೇರಿಯಲ್ಲಿದೆ.

ಇದನ್ನು ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಿದವರು ಪ್ರಸನ್ನ ಆತ್ಮ , ಪೋಲಿಸ್ ಕಾನ್ಸ್ಟೇಬಲ್ , ರಾಜಾಜಿನಗರ ಪೋಲಿಸ್ ಸ್ಟೇಶನ್