Petrol stations flout safety with impunity

Over 70 percent petrol filling stations in the city do not comply with basic fire safety norms putting at risk lives of hundreds of people, including customers, staff and those who work and live in the surroundings.Alarmingly, this is just a conservative estimate by the Hyderabad district fire officials.More distressing is the fact that the fire department has no power to act against the fuel filling stations which are permitted and regulated by the Union ministry.“Every petrol filling station should have fire extinguishers installed, a 4.3 metre-tall compound wall and boards displaying information on fire safety for customers. Vehicular traffic should not be allowed around the station,” Hyderabad district fire officer P Deendayal told expresso adding that over 70 percent of managements did not adhere to these basic safety norms and regulations.According to officials, there are over 170 petrol filling stations in the city and about 300 if clubbed with Ranga Reddy district.“We can serve a notice asking them to take up the fire safety measures. But we cannot recommend any action if they fail to comply with the orders,” the DFO said.Once the Union ministry issues a permit, the licence can be cancelled only by the Centre.“As we do not have the power to act against them, the managements tend to ignore our notices,” a senior official said.Fire inspectionsMeanwhile, in view of the spate of fire accidents this summer (five occurred in the last couple of days), the fire services department has taken up inspection of buildings in the city for fire safety under the the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Fire Service Act, 2000. In Ranga Reddy district, the fire service officials have decided to make a comprehensive study of fire safety norms in industrial areas.Krishna Kumar, assistant district fire officer, Ranga Reddy told expresso that they would inspect high-rise buildings, godowns, theatres, educational institutions, hospitals, hotels and other business establishments to check whether they are following safety measures.“A three-member team comprising officials from revenue, police and fire department will conduct a special drive and prepare a report on the fire safety measures being followed. The report will be submitted to the district collector for necessary action,” he said.  

FIRE REPORT 2009* 

As many as 25,427 fire accidents were reported in the State.* Of them, 1,686 took place in the city and its surroundings. About 370 were injured while over 673 were rescued.* Over 8,000 occurred in residential complexes and 1,200 in commercial buildings.

By Mouli Mareedu,

moulimareedu@gmail.com