(a) the details of deaths in the country due to fire in various buildings, factories during the last two years, year and State/UT-wise including NCT of Delhi;
(b) whether the Government has taken any steps to curb this menace of fire in residential and commercial buildings;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) Fire Services is a State subject and has been included as a Municipal function in the XII Schedule of the Constitution of India under Article 243 (W). The Central Government does not maintain data of deaths due to fire centrally.
(b) to (d) It is the primary responsibility of the State Governments to take necessary steps required for safety of life and property from fire hazards in residential and commercial buildings in the area of their jurisdiction. However, the important steps taken by Central Government in this regard are as under:-
(i) Bureau of Indian Standards has published National Building Code of India, 2016. It is recommendatory document which covers the detailed guidelines for
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construction, maintenance and fire safety of the structures. It also lays down a provision of Fire and Life Safety Audit which shall be carried out for all buildings having a height of more than 15 mtrs.
(ii) National Disaster Management Authority has issued guidelines during April, 2012 on scaling, type of equipment and training of fire services for standardization and revamping of the fire services in the country.
(iii) Directorate General (Fire Service, Civil Defence & Home Guards), Ministry of Home Affairs, plays an advisory role through the Standing Fire Advisory Council (SFAC) and has issued Guidelines /advisories on 18th April, 2017, 31st August, 2017 and 4th June 2019, to all the States/UTs to incorporate the recommendations of National Building Code into their local Building Bye-Laws for fire and life safety from time to time.
(iv) Central Government has prepared a new Model Bill titled “to Provide for the Maintenance of Fire and Emergency Service for the State” and has circulated to all the States / Union Territories on 16.09.2019 with the request to examine their respective Fire Service Bill and revise / prepare their fire services based on the revised Model Bill at an early date.
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