These certificates are mandatory for buildings over 32 metres high. The Mumbai fire brigade has appealed to such housing societies to upload their certificates. Pic/ Shirish Vakatania
Almost all parts of Mumbai have skyscrapers (more than 32 metres in height - 10 storeys) but the BMC doesn’t have the exact number of buildings in the city. "It may be around 40,000 to 50,000," said an official from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Pic/Sameer Abedi
As per Section 3 (1) of Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Saving Measures Act 2006, it has been made mandatory to obtain half-yearly certificate (Specimen B) twice a year in the month of January and July from a licensed agent, that the fire-fighting system installed in the building or part of the building, is in good and efficient condition. File photo
The owner/occupant of the building is also instructed to submit (upload) the said certificate on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation website (https://portal.mcgm.gov.in). The Mumbai fire brigade has appealed to societies to upload the data. But even after four months, the fire brigade has received only 907 online submissions from such buildings across the city. Pic/Shadab Khan
“A few societies even submit papers. But 907 is a very low number. It is important to have a working fire-fighting system in buildings. It contains the spread of fires and saves lives. The certification is necessary so that the buildings get regular checkups of their system,” said Sanjay Manjrekar, CFO of Mumbai Fire Brigade. Manjrekar has also informed that the owners/occupants of buildings or establishments which have not submitted the certificate will be liable for action. Pic/Anurag Ahire
“Why doesn't the fire brigade make the information of buildings which filed certificates open to all? It will help citizens act if their societies are not on the list. Secondly, the fire brigade claims that they don’t have enough manpower to inspect each and every building, but why can't they take strong action like filing FIRs against societies with random checking? Stern action against a few defaulters will result in more awareness,” said Anil Galgali, an activist. File photo
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