GHMC to focus on upgrading fire equipments

HYDERABAD: GHMC Commissioner MT Krishna Babu, today revealed the corporation’s plans to set aside Rs 11.5 crores for modernisation and upgrading the fire equipments and machines within GHMC limits in the next fiscal year, with Rs 7.5 crore put aside for this year. Calling all hospitals, to cooperate in helping set up fire safety features, he made it clear that GHMC would not extend any further leniency if hospitals were found to be inactive in setting up the same.“I appeal to organisations like AP Nursing Homes Association (APNA) and AP Super Specialty Hospitals association (ASHA) not to interfere if we happen to serve notice on one of their members, found not complying with the rules. We have given enough time for all to set up fire safety features. If some initiative has been taken by the hospital towards the same, we will provide a further window of one month,” he said during his inaugural address of a workshop on Hospital/Nursing Homes fire Safety held at KIMS here today.He further instructed the members of ASHA and APNA to appoint a fire safety officer for making regular drills of installed equipment equipped at the time building permission. The Commissioner further maintained that the need of the hour was modern and critical equipment. “We will set up temporary sheds in parks, government offices etc at appropriate distances, which can be used to shelter emergency vehicles for quick response, apart from setting up five new fire stations.”Vivek Dube, director general, Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Response and Fire Services, who was also present, said that many hospitals in the state, especially in the city limits, continued to function without proper NOC clearance. “Just 16 hospitals out of 199 in the state have the NOC. Hospitals set up long before the Fire Safety Act  2007 came up are the ones violating the regulations.”