Failing submission, recommendation to disconnect water and electricity supply to the buildings
City fire brigade chief Ganesh Sonune told TOI , “The buildings will have to comply with the rules immediately. Pune: The city fire brigade has warned of action — disconnection of water or electricity supply — against buildings that ignore fire-safety measures and fail to submit the prescribed Form B twice a year. Our local fire stations will study the fire systems of these buildings and houses. If the building owners, trustees, societies or builders fail to submit Form B twice a year, we will recommend Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) authorities disconnect their water or electricity supply. The fire brigade has appealed to houses, high-rise residential buildings, hospitals, malls, cinemas, theatres, hotels, educational institutions, commercial complexes and large commercial establishments in the city to keep their fire-fighting systems operational and in good condition.
Under the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006, the owner or occupier of a building is responsible for providing fire-prevention and life-safety measures and keeping them functional at all times. For this purpose, it is mandatory to obtain a certificate in the prescribed format from a licensed agency and submit it to the chief fire officer or a designated officer. This certificate has to be submitted twice a year—in Jan and in July. Relevant buildings and establishments within the PMC limits should submit Form B in person at the office of the chief fire officer, central fire station, Mahatma Phule Peth.
Owner, occupier responsible in case of accident The fire brigade has issued a clear warning that if Form B is not submitted within the prescribed period and a fire or other accident subsequently occurs in the concerned building, the entire responsibility will rest with the building owner or occupier or the society office.