None to use fire equipment

BANGALORE: Jayanagar Shopping Complex, maintained by Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), is one of the major attractions in Bangalore City. However, there is nothing to revel about the complex when it comes to fire safety measures.It is not that the BBMP has not spent money or that the Fire and Emergency Services has not directed the authorities concerned to install the fire safety equipment at the complex. The authorities have spent more than `1 crore to install fire safety equipment such as pipes, sprinklers and hose and even constructed a water tank to store water for this purpose. Unfortunately, the authorities stopped at that. There is no single person authorised either to handle the fire safety equipment or to look after it. “The fire alert room on the ground floor near the lift has been locked for more than two months. Earlier, there was a person just to guard the fire safety equipment,” said a shop-owner on condition of anonymity.As per fire safety norms, all high-rise buildings should be equipped with fire extinguishers to douse small fires. Such fire extinguishers have to be refilled as per the schedule fixed by the Fire and Emergency Services Department. If the rusted and outdated fire extinguisher is any indicator, one can assess the negligence of the authorities, who are supposed to ensure the replacement of outdated fire extinguishers. There are two rusted fire extinguishers just opposite to the lift door. One can not find a single fire extinguisher at the remaining eight floors. “How do you expect them to  replace outdated fire extinguishers when the new ones are kept in a locked room?” questions a shop-owner on condition of anonymity. A peep through the window of a closed room on the ground-floor revealed the fire extinguishers laying idle. A major fire mishap took place at the vegetables market at the Shopping Complex premises in June 2008. Many businessmen incurred huge losses due to the mishap. The BBMP gave `50,000 to each shop-owner as compensation. “I want the BBMP authorities to take take care of the fire safety equipment at the complex. I think the authorities have already spent a considerable amount on fire safety equipment. We will be happy if the BBMP  or Fire and Emergency Services Department depute a few personnel to maintain the fire safety equipment,” said K Suresh, Secretary, Jayanagar Shopping Complex Merchants’ Association.