Rules for buildings vulnerable to disasters were framed after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks
Rules for buildings vulnerable to disasters were framed after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks
The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the Maharashtra government to constitute a committee to prepare a report on the implementation of the 2009 draft fire safety rules and regulations for buildings and structures vulnerable to disasters and The matter was adjourned till August 19.
A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Dutta and Justice MS Karnik was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Abha Singh, seeking implementation of the draft special rules for fire safety in buildings since 2009. The rules were issued after the crown. 26 November 2011 attack
The court directed a four-member committee of experts in the field to submit a report to the state government in two months.
“The draft rules are of the year 2009. We are now in the year 2022. The committee will see whether we need to improve the rules and our system,” the bench said and adjourned the matter till August 19.
The PIL filed by Ms Singh states, “Before 2009 there were several acts of man-made disasters including the attack on Mumbai on November 25, 2008. On February 27, 2009, the Government of Maharashtra, through a notice to the Department of Urban Development, issued draft special rules for building vulnerable to man-made disasters. In 2009, several objections and suggestions were presented. These were processed by the Deputy Director, Town Planning, and a summary was sent to the Government of Maharashtra to notify the final special regulation for construction vulnerable to man-made disasters. On January 15, 2018, Ms. Singh wrote to the Maharashtra government to issue a final notification. But, no action was taken. Hence this petition.”