Nearly 1,500 schools in Delhi lack fire safety clearance

Nearly 1,500 schools in the National Capital lack fire safety clearance. “Till now we have issued fire safety certificates to 60 per cent of the school buildings in the National Capital. Rest of the schools (defaulting) have either not approached the Fire Services Department for clearance or not complied with the prescribed fire safety norms,” the Delhi Fire Service Director, Mr A.K. Sharma, told PTI.

There are over 4,500 schools in Delhi, including 942 government-run ones, according to official reports.

Mr Sharma said the Department will issue notices to the defaulting schools but stressed that it is up to the Education Department to tell the Fire Department about how and which all buildings have not received the NoC.

“Earlier all school buildings were governed under the Education Act but now it is up to the Education Department to let us know which buildings haven’t received clearance,” he said.

A fire clearance certificate is not a guarantee that the building will never meet with an accident, it just means a reasonable fire safety has been ensured, Mr Sharma said.

Under DFS rules 2010 under Delhi Fire Service Act 2007, the occupier of the building or premises, as the case may be, shall maintain the fire prevention and fire safety measures provided in the building or premises at all times in best repairs for use by the occupants or members of fire Service or both in the event of an out break of fire.

Almost all cinema halls, guest houses, big malls and high rise buildings in the city have been issued an NoC by the Department.

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