BMC aims at digital eye to watch violators

Mumbai: After facing flak from all quarters over the recent Kamala Mills fire and unauthorised constructions, the Brihanmumbai municipal corporation has proposed to develop a software to keep a check on violators. It also insists that the restaurants should have a page for citizens’ feedback with a questionnaire on ‘safe restaurant’.

An amendment was also made to the BMC Act to punish the violators with higher penalty. The decision has been taking after repeated fire incidents in the city.

The probe report of Kamala Mills tragedy which came out on Thursday was a compilation of several recommendations and amendments of the current rules.

The report states that there is need to IT-enable the monitoring mechanism.

“It needs a software developed for compulsory online submission of self declaration which will prove that the fire safety equipment and the machinery are in proper working condition. Along with this, a citizen feedback page should be created with a questionnaire on ‘safe restaurant’ assessment. For the same, the MCGM will provide an unique identity number to each premises which will be issued by the licensing department,” the report states.

Meanwhile, strict norms are also proposed for approval and cancellation of licenses in the report. If any establishment is seen violating norms for three times, then his license will be automatically cancelled, revealed the report.

Further it proposes that restaurant owners must have one fire safety officer from amongst his employees, who is trained enough and must be registered with the chief fire officer of Mumbai Fire brigade. This officer will have a separate uniform.