Guwahati: DC tells hospitals, malls, restaurants to take safety measures

Guwahati: The Kamrup Metropolitan district administration has directed all private hospitals, shopping malls, bars, restaurants and cineplexes, etc to take all the required safety measures and submit updated safety certificates from the concerned departments to the deputy commissioner within 30 days.

“Non submission of the same will lead to suspension/cancellation of licences of the defaulting establishments,” Kamrup Metropolitan deputy commissioner Pallav Gopal Jha, who is also the chairman, District Disaster Management Authority, Kamrup (Metro),” stated in an order issued on Monday.

The measures include fire safety measures such as functional inbuilt fire installations, functional fire extinguishers, proper fire exits, etc and updated safety certificates from fire and emergency services.

“Electrical safety has to be properly checked and updated electrical safety certificates obtained from the chief electrical inspector cum advisor to the Assam government. Food safety audit to be done and updated food safety certificates from the health and family welfare department is to be submitted,” the order by the DC said.

Besides, the order stated that updated emergency disaster management and evacuation plans are to be prepared, and provision for emergency evacuation routes is to be designed well in advance.

“Safety audits of the lifts/elevators are to be done as per the existing norms and updated safety certificates from the chief electrical inspector cum advisor are to be submitted,” it stated.

“Basic training on fire safety, search and rescue, emergency evacuation are to be conducted and a detailed report submitted to the deputy commissioner,” it added.

The direction, issued in the greater public interest and as per provisions laid down under the Disaster Management Act 2005, comes given observation made that private hospitals, shopping malls, pubs bars, restaurants, cineplexes, etc, in Guwahati, where there is a large congregation of people, do not maintain the basic minimum safety requirements like fire safety, electrical safety and other emergency provisions for tackling any eventuality.

“Several incidents have happened in recent times due to non-maintenance of these basic safety requirements leading to loss of life and property. It has been observed that the owners of such establishments also give least importance on the safety aspect of the establishments which puts the patients, attendants, guests and visitors in a vulnerable position,” the order by the DC stated.

“Moreover, it has been observed that such establishments do not maintain the food safety norms and do not adhere to the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. I am of the considered opinion that, if such practices are allowed to continue unhindered it may cause a mishap and calamity of great inconvenience and hardship,” it said.