Non-compliance is the norm here

VIJAYAWADA: In a shocking revelation, it was found that only four  newly constructed hospitals in Vijayawada are equipped with the mandatory fire safety systems. Most of the hospital managements are simply not bothered about fire safety.The Kolkatha fire appears to have shaken the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation authorities and the district fire department officers from their slumber. Notices have been issued to hospitals and nursing homes asking them to comply with mandatory fire safety norms. They were given one week time.According to the regional fire officer of VMC S Prabodh Reddy, total 51 hospitals and nursing homes were served notices. There are 31 hospitals with a capacity of less than 50 beds in the city and 20 hospitals have more than 50 beds each.Reddy also said they were going to serve notices to the managements of schools, colleges, function halls and shopping complexes soon.Meanwhile, district fire officer SV Chowdary, on Tuesday, inspected private and government hospitals in the city, along with his staff to check the fire safety arrangements there. “To my knowledge, only two private hospitals that are going to be constructed got the fire NOC. No existing hospital got the certificate,” he said. It is learnt that the fire officer noticed two hospitals that are using the cellars to store equipment and furniture.As per rules, hospitals, schools, colleges and apartment buildings should be constructed in such a manner that there should be space on all the four sides for fire tenders to move. But in reality, no hospital is built this way. In such cases, the VMC should reject the plan. Unfortunately, under pressure, the authorities are giving the nod to such building plans, , said Ex-MLA Subbaraju.