Kolkata Buildings Lacking Fire Safety Will Not Get Completion Certificate
Obtaining a completion certificate for high-rise buildings in Kolkata is going to be tough from now on. Apart from getting mandatory permission from the city fire department, builders of skyscrapers will also have to get approvals from the police and the civic authorities for getting a completion certificate. The statement from the fire department has come after a minor fire broke in an under-construction building, The 42, on November 17. The department has also notified the promoters of the building to install basic firefighting equipment even if the building is under construction.
According to the fire department, every under-construction building should have integrated fire-fighting system and equipment, and failing to implement any of these recommendations will lead to non-issuance of completion certificate.
Even when the building is under-construction, tall buildings should have provision for water barrels, fire extinguishers and sand buckets on each floor to douse flames in case of a fire. Other suggestions made by the department includes installing fire- and smoke- proof doors, external sprinkler tubes, etc.
Currently, there are five skyscrapers coming up in Kolkata, including The 42, which is the tallest in the city at 268 meters. Others include Forum Atmosphere which is 152 meters high and Avidipta is 158 meters, both under construction. Urbana Tower 1 and 2 are completed and are over 150 meters in height. However, the highest ladder the Kolkata fire department has is 68 meter and can reach up to only up to the 21st floor and is stationed at Salt Lake. Since the firefighters do not have the equipment to handle in case of crises in such structures, the builders have been asked to install fire-fighting kits and install service lift for better access.