Official says lack of funds bars various govt institutions from implementing safety recommendations
The Emergency and Disaster Management (E&DM) of Capital Development Authority (CDA) had declared several high-rise buildings vulnerable to fire incidents as these are not meeting prescribed fire prevention standards.
During a survey E&DM had issued notices to about 450 high rise buildings, complexes and plazas of capital including five-star hotels to adopt fire safety measures for securing lives of people in case of any mishap.
An official of the Emergency and Disaster Management said that the authority had also issued recommendations to several government institutions including the Supreme Court, parliament, Prime Minister’s House and various block of ministries beside notices to private buildings to adopt fire safety standards for ensuring a fire-free capital.
According to the Fire Prevention and Life Safety (FPLS) regulation 2010, number of safety measures were required in high-rise buildings of capital, including fire extinguishers, dedicated water tanks at basements and roofs, floor plan, exit plan, centralized mike system, fire party at every floor, disconnection system of electricity and gas.
He claimed that various government institutions were reluctant to implement the safety recommendations due to lack of funds. He said that according to the new safety regulations-2010, every building in federal capital was bound to improve the standard of safety measures to save lives.
Unfortunately no building was meeting the safety standards according to the new law, he added. He said that on November 28, 2013, CDA through an advertisement announced to strictly enforce FPLS-2010 regulation, and directed the high rise occupants of federal capital to install the safety measures as per law for ensuring a fire-free capital.
It was declared that failure to meet the standard would be severely penalized to the extent of Rs 500,000 with daily penalty of 3,000.
The official claimed no tickets were being given to the violators due to the lack of coordination between Emergency and Disaster Management and Building Control Section of CDA.
Citing example of building of Shaheed-e-Millat, parts of which were destroyed in fire, he said still safety recommendations in the buildings were not implemented.
Another official said that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) approved Rs 2 million for carrying a survey of the buildings, complexes and plazas to evaluate safety measures but unfortunately the amount could not be released so far.
He said E&DM was carrying its survey at a slow pace due to lack of funds, staff and other equipments.
Talking about the new buildings and plazas, he claimed that CDA’s Building Control Section was issuing NOCs and completion certificates for new buildings without consulting Emergency and Disaster Management that is clear violation of law.
He said the NOCs and completion certificates issuing authority would be held responsible in case of any mishap.