Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Fire and Emergency Service (OFES) has stepped up its efforts to ensure compliance with fire safety regulations across the state, issuing notices to around 800 buildings and establishments for allegedly operating without mandatory fire safety certificates.
The department is now preparing to launch a month-long special enforcement and awareness campaign, ‘Surakhsit Odisha, Vikashit Odisha’, from September 15. The initiative aims to improve adherence to fire safety requirements and reduce the risk of preventable fire incidents.
Residential Complexes, Hotels Among Those Served Notices
According to OFES data, notices issued during the current year cover a wide range of buildings and establishments.
The highest number of notices were issued to 258 residential complexes, followed by 172 hotels and 100 educational institutions.
The enforcement action also includes:
- 14 healthcare facilities
- 32 business establishments
- 63 industrial units
- 86 mercantile buildings
- 34 places of assembly
The notices have primarily been issued to establishments allegedly operating without obtaining the fire safety certification required under applicable regulations.
OFES IGP Umashankar Dash said the upcoming campaign would particularly focus on buildings that have failed to obtain the mandatory certification.
Month-Long ‘Surakhsit Odisha, Vikashit Odisha’ Campaign
The special campaign will begin on September 15 and continue for a month. Officials will combine enforcement activities with awareness programmes to encourage building owners, occupiers and other stakeholders to comply with fire safety requirements.
The initiative is expected to cover buildings and establishments falling under the relevant fire safety regulations, with officials carrying out preventive inspections and audits.
Rather than limiting the campaign to post-fire action, the department intends to place greater emphasis on identifying risks before accidents occur.
Preventive Audits To Identify Fire Hazards
As part of the drive, fire officials will conduct intensive preventive audits at buildings covered by fire safety regulations.
These inspections are expected to assess whether establishments have fulfilled mandatory safety requirements and obtained the necessary certificates.
The department will also organise awareness demonstrations, camps, workshops and exhibitions as part of the campaign.
Through these programmes, authorities will seek to educate building owners and occupants about fire prevention, emergency preparedness and the importance of maintaining appropriate safety arrangements.
New Database Planned For Better Monitoring
A key component of the initiative will be the creation of a comprehensive database of buildings and establishments that require fire safety certificates.
The database will include information on the certification status of individual establishments, allowing authorities to monitor compliance more effectively and identify buildings that have not completed the required process.
OFES also plans to coordinate with other licensing authorities and insurance companies to strengthen compliance mechanisms.
The involvement of multiple stakeholders is expected to make it easier to identify establishments that require fire safety certification and encourage them to meet the prescribed standards.
OFES Warns Of Strict Action Against Violators
IGP Umashankar Dash stressed the importance of preventive measures, noting that many fire incidents can potentially be avoided when appropriate safety precautions are followed.
Authorities have indicated that establishments found violating mandatory fire safety requirements could face stringent action.
The campaign is therefore expected to combine awareness with enforcement, giving stakeholders an opportunity to understand and fulfil their responsibilities while also ensuring that persistent violations are dealt with firmly.
Fire Safety And Ease Of Doing Business
According to the department, the initiative is not intended merely as an enforcement exercise. It is also being positioned as part of the state’s broader efforts to promote safe economic growth and infrastructure development.
Ensuring that commercial establishments, residential complexes, educational institutions, healthcare facilities and industrial units follow fire safety norms can help create a safer environment for residents, employees, visitors and customers.
The OFES campaign also seeks to support the government’s ease-of-doing-business agenda by encouraging businesses and infrastructure projects to incorporate safety compliance into their operations.
With nearly 800 establishments already receiving notices and a dedicated month-long campaign scheduled to begin on September 15, the fire department is expected to intensify its monitoring and awareness activities across Odisha.
