Housing experts say that till the time there isn't a proper regulation in place, there will be no one who would take up the responsibility.
The fire incident that occured on Wednesday and claimed four lives, injured over a dozen, once again raises the question who should be held responsible for such incidents. Developers claim that they in most cases put better fire safety methods in place, but once they hand it over to the housing society it becomes their responsibility. Housing experts say that till the time there isn't a proper regulation in place, there will be no one who would take up the responsibility.
According to Babulal Verma, Managing Director of Omkar Developers, once the building is handed over to the society then society should take care of the fire safety equipments, its maintenance and also train the facility staff if available, or have volunteers to help during fire emergencies.
Verma himself a resident of building Buemonde, where there was a fire few days ago. He said, "We every three months train our facility staff on how to act during situations like this. Our internal fire safety equipment are well maintained and the staff is well trained to act in such cases. These are the people who can act initially till the time the fire brigade arrives."
Meanwhile, even housing societies are waking up to this, for example Viren Shah, a resident of Worli's one of the poshest building Madhuli, says that the society in his building has maintained and kept the fire fighting system well. "We even had a mock drill conducted once and our equipment are well maintained. In new buildings the builders should always provide better fire fighting equipment."
Housing experts say that while posh societies can afford this, there are many who do not wish to shell money and for them a regulation should be put in place. Adv Sanjay Chaturvedi, a housing expert said, "In cases where there are people who do not wish to shell money for maintenance and up keep of fire fighting equipment, the government should come up with regulations which will also conduct periodic visits so that people with fear will maintain the fire fighting equipment."
Meanwhile, Verma claims that in his projects there are Fire sprinklers, Fire extinguisher, Fire hose reel, and Fire hydrant on every floor. There are also fire balls that are used, and even dedicated training on how to act during a fire emergency.
HOW TO PREVENT
- Developers claim that they in most cases put better fire safety methods in place, but once they hand it over to the housing society it becomes their responsibility
- Housing experts say a proper regulation should be put in place
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Crystal Tower Fire")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}