September 28, 2014
Fire safety: A priority for Bengal Govt during Durga Puja
Elaborate measures have been taken by the Fire ServicesDepartment to prevent mishaps in the city during the festive days of Durga Puja.
State Minister for Fire and Emergency Services, Mr JavedKhan, has urged the puja organisers to follow fire prevention norms to ensure asafe puja. Speaking at a programme in the fire brigade headquarters, Mr Khansaid they would keep a tight vigil to ensure adequate fire safety measures inpandals.
“There would be no partiality in maintaining vigilance. Sothere is no question of being soft on the big pujas or harsh on smaller pujas.The message is to ensure a safe puja,” he said.
The Minister said, the guidelines include fire retardantsolutions on materials used in pandal decoration, use of authorized ISI markedcables and wires, adequate distance between metre box and puja pandal, firealarm system, CCTV, small fire tending machines installed at various places andadequate supply of water.
The Minister said that there were 1780 puja committees undertheir ambit. “We will give the best puja awards to those committees whowould follow the fire safety norms and indulge in best practices,” hesaid.
There will be 13 fire outposts and call centres to managethe city and prevent untoward incidents. The puja committees have been asked totrain volunteers in handling emergency situations and deploy them inside andoutside the pandals. Medical servicesand toilet facilities for ladies are some of the other criteria to be fulfilled.
