However, BMC officers will not address the issue of illegal and double parking in city
After a fire broke out in Tilak Nagar's Sargam society in the recent past, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has formed a five-member team, at the ward level, to work on preventive measures. However, the team will not be addressing the city's parking trouble, which was the major hurdle in fighting fire at Tilak Nagar.
The team consists of officials from the license office, shops and establishment department, and department of proposal for buildings. It also includes the medical officer of health (MoH) and the assistant fire station officer. There is no representative from the traffic department or the regional transport office (RTO).
Fire engines could not access the Tilak Nagar building's premises, where five people died in fire on December 27, 2018. Illegally parked and abandoned vehicles on a narrow lane leading to the building served as a big hindrance to the fire tenders.
While advocating the new team, an official from the M west ward of the BMC said that a joint meeting among members of the civic body, the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), traffic department, and the fire department was already held earlier. Measures to prevent illegal parking was discussed in the meeting. However, the problem of illegal parking and double parking exists across the city and the new team will not look into it, he added.
As per the circular issued last week, the new team will visit both commercial and residential establishments to ensure they have fire compliances and if not, it will set a deadline for them to get the same. "They will ensure establishments have preventive measures against fire incidents and will report to the assistant commissioner of the respective ward," I A Kundan, additional municipal commissioner (Western suburbs), said.
According to an official from the fire department, the purpose of the new team is to delegate work related to fire compliance at the ward level. During investigation of the Tilka Nagar fire, it was revealed that the residents had requested an inspection of the building's fire fighting system and had also submitted a letter to the city's Fire Brigade. But, the letter did not reach the officer concerned. An internal inquiry led by the Fire Brigade found that the clerk in the dispatch section of its Wadala office did not forward the letter to the respective official.
"There is no need to take permission from senior fire department officials if it can be granted by a ward-level official," Kundan said.
When DNA tried contacting BMC officials to ask the reason for excluding traffic officials from the new team, there was no response.
OTHER FACTS
- Team has no representative from the traffic dept or the RTO
- New team to visit both commercial & residential properties
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