18 malls in fire brigade's radar

Fire dept has been empowered to cut power, water supply of malls, multiplexes and societies that violate safety norms

In perhaps one of the most radical changes attempted so far, the state government has empowered the fire brigade to simply cut power and water supply to shopping malls, multiplexes and industrial units in case they violate the fire safety norms.

The ruling came into effect after an expert committee appointed by the state government to give recommendations on safety measures during an emergency in multiplexes in Mumbai submitted its report in August 2008.

The committee, headed by N V Merani, found that approximately 18 multiplexes and shopping malls in the city were violating fire safety norms. Surveys were carried out in 33 malls, 18 functioning and 15 under construction that have come up in Mumbai in the past four years. None of them conform to stipulated fire safety norms.

In October 2008, a major fire broke out on the first floor of Infinity mall at Andheri (one of the malls named in the Merani report). At the time of the incident, nearly 300 people were present at the multiplex in the mall.

Stringent action

Joint Chief Fire Officer P D Kargupikkar explained that with the enactment of the said act, the fire officials would be empowered to take stringent action against violators from imposing a fine to prosecuting defaulters.

According to the Chief Fire Officer A V Sawant, the scope of the act is not restricted to municipal bodies of the state, but will also include other special planning bodies like the MMRDA, CIDCO, etc responsible for fire safety in its ambit.

Sawant said, "If the fire fighting system installed in buildings, malls, multiplexes, etc are not found to be in working condition at the time of fire inspection, the following action will be taken."

Sawant added that notices will be issued to the violators, and sufficient time will be given to rectify the error. If they fail to resolve the lapses, the fire department will be empowered tou00a0 either disconnect power and water supply or even seal the premises.u00a0 The last resort could be fines between Rs 5,000 to Rs 50,000 and/or prosecution.

"The recommendations made in the Merani report are not agreeable to many of these commercial outlet owners, as they find that them realistically impossible to implement," said a senior fire department official closely working with malls in the city. An Inorbitu00a0 spokesperson did not wish to comment on the issue.

Fire hazards
Inorbit Mall, Malad
Huma Adlabs, Kanjurmarg
Metro Adlabs, Dhobitalao
R Adlabs, Mulund
Imax, Wadala
Inox, Nariman Point
Movietime, Goregaon
Novelty Cinema, Grant Rd
K-star, Chembur
Odeon Multiplex, Ghatkopar
PVR, Mulund
PVR, Juhu
Infiniti Mall, Andheri
Fun Republic, Andheri
24 Karat, Jogeshwari
Oberoi Mall, Goregaon
Gaiety, Bandra
Raghuleela, Kandivli
(These malls have been named in the Merani report in August 2008)

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