Hyderabad:After nearly four years of inaction by the former BRS government, the proposal to amend the 1999 Telangana Fire Services Act was re-emerged on the agenda as the Congressional government, led by Chief Minister AA Revanth Reddy, considered radical changes to strengthen fire safety norms across the state.
The Telangana State Fire Department submitted a proposal during the last BRS regime in June 2020 to amend the 1999 Act of 1999, citing its lack of executive power and insufficient coverage for various building types. Despite repeated appeals, the BRS government failed to take action on the proposal before taking office in December 2023.
Under current law, only high-rise commercial buildings above 15 meters and residential buildings above 18 meters are authorized to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Fire Department before obtaining a building permit. The bill also allows a maximum fine of 25,000 or three months of imprisonment for violations, which the department considers is invalid and not sufficient to ensure compliance.
The fire department is now pushing for a comprehensive amendment modeled under the Delhi Fire Protection Act 2007. These changes will allow all buildings (regardless of height) to bring all buildings under the authority of the law. The revised regulations will require mandatory fire safety devices such as sprinklers, alarms, groundwater storage and floor-to-ground fire extinguishers, even in low-rise structures.
The department recommends extending the Fire Protection Regulation to include all hospitals and non-high-rise commercial buildings, which are currently exempt. The proposals also seek similar powers to those granted by police under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Criminal Procedure Code (CRPC), thereby allowing violators and immediate legal action to allow arrest, which is impossible under existing legislation.
At present, the fire department can only issue notices and file lengthy legal cases that often delay for years. The proposed amendment is intended to enable faster law enforcement, heavier penalties and stricter liability development non-compliance.
According to GHMC data, about 1.9 million buildings in the city pay property taxes. Of these, an estimated 70,000 structures are mixed-purpose buildings with residential and commercial occupancy. Fire officials believe that putting all of these buildings under regulatory supervision is crucial to preventing disasters.
The urgency of reform has gained attention after the Gulzar Houz Fire accident. Revanth Reddy has ordered a comprehensive investigation and responsible officials have made recommendations to overhaul the fire safety regime. The state cabinet is expected to be considered in an amendment to be considered at an expected upcoming meeting at the end of this month.
