Hyderabad: In a move to strengthen fire safety regulations, the Telangana State Fire Department held a consultative meeting on Friday with representatives of builders and developers associations to deliberate on proposed amendments to the Telangana Fire Services Act, 1999.
Key Objectives of the Amendment
The primary aim of the amendment is to update existing regulations to align with modern urban infrastructure risks, enhance safety standards, and increase enforcement powers. Once finalized, the amendment will extend the fire department's regulatory purview to buildings below 15 meters in height, as the majority of fire accidents occur in these smaller, often crowded structures.
Meeting Details
The meeting took place at the department's headquarters in Nanakramguda and was attended by members of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (CREDAI) and the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO). Officials stated that the consultation is part of an ongoing process to finalize changes aimed at strengthening fire safety regulations, simplifying compliance procedures, and improving the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) in response to rapid urban development.
Director General's Presentation
Fire Director General Vikram Singh Mann shared the draft amendments with stakeholders and outlined the rationale behind each proposal. He explained that the revisions are intended to address emerging challenges in infrastructure growth while enhancing overall fire and life safety standards across the state.
Next Steps
Developers were invited to submit their suggestions either online or in writing. Officials said that the feedback received would be examined in detail before any further action is taken on the draft. The department is expected to finalize the amendments after incorporating stakeholder inputs, aiming to strike a balance between safety and ease of doing business.
