The Fire and Emergency Services directorate of Tripura introduced new fire safety regulations for municipal areas, aiming to enhance safety measures in buildings. Unlike national building rules and fire safety norms applicable to buildings above 15 meters, the revamped system in Tripura now extends fire safety clearances to buildings below 15 meters.

During a press briefing at the state secretariat, Apurba Roy, the Secretary for Fire and Emergency Services, highlighted the implementation of a more efficient system. Under this system, city residents can conveniently apply online for fire safety permissions, with approvals typically granted within 28 days, eliminating unnecessary hassles.

Roy emphasized that the previous fire safety regulations were inadequate, prompting the formulation of The Tripura Fire and Emergency Service Act, 2022. This legislation aims to streamline the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOC) for both residential and commercial buildings through an online platform, simplifying the process for applicants.

The Act, passed during a recent session of the state Assembly, was officially notified in the state gazette by the law department on April 27. A.K. Bhattacharya, the director of fire and emergency services, emphasized the insufficiency of existing fire safety rules for residential and commercial structures. He noted that the new regulations align with the National Building Code and expand the requirement for fire NOCs to buildings below 15 meters in Tripura.

Bhattacharya detailed the streamlined process for obtaining fire NOCs, highlighting the online application procedure and the prompt issuance of approvals within 28 days, provided all documents are in order.

Additionally, the new regulations pave the way for community awareness programs in villages, engaging various stakeholders such as civil defense volunteers, ham radio license holders, disaster management volunteers, and women’s Self Help Group members. Over 1,000 civil defense volunteers have already been trained, with ongoing training for another 2,000 volunteers. Furthermore, 75 ham radio operators have received training.

The Fire and Emergency Service centers in Tripura receive an average of 12 calls per day, with approximately three calls pertaining to fire incidents. Bhattacharya attributed the decline in fire incidents partly to increased awareness campaigns conducted in schools, colleges, and the wider community, aimed at educating people on fire incident management.