Times News NetworkKanpur: In view of the recent coaching institute fire incident in Lucknow, a joint security meeting was held here on Tuesday under the direction of Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal. Additional police commissioner (Law and Order) Vipin Tada chaired the meeting.The Police Commissionerate and the chief fire officer Deepak Sharma, organized this meeting with the owners, operators and managers of coaching institutes, hotels, hostels, hospitals, cinemas, shopping malls and other commercial buildings operating in the city. The officers in the meeting on a broad scale reviewed security arrangements giving topmost priority to public safety.A detailed presentation was given in the meeting on fire safety of the institutions, building protection, disaster management, emergency exit arrangements (Emergency exit), CCTV, availability of fire safety equipment, necessary security measures from a criminal standpoint, and compliance with related standards. Suggestions were received from the institution operators who were directed to ensure full compliance with the prescribed safety standards.Under the joint verification campaign already being conducted by the Police Commissionerate, so far about 160 hostels, 490 hospitals, 490 schools and 865 coaching institutes have been verified. During the campaign, on finding security-related shortcomings, notices were issued by the fire department to more than 40 institutions, while sealing action was taken by the Kanpur Development Authority against more than 20 establishments.It was clarified that any commercial activity operating in basements or other places against safety standards will not be accepted under any circumstances. The joint inspection campaign will continue uninterrupted, and against institutions that do not remove shortcomings within the prescribed time period, notices, sealing, financial penalties and, if necessary, criminal action will be taken as per rules.The chief fire officer gave detailed information about the safety measures to be adopted in case of a fire in buildings, the use of primary firefighting equipment, the safe evacuation process and the precautions to be observed during a disaster. An appeal was made to the institution operators to regularly provide fire safety training to their employees and concerned persons, and to always keep all fire safety equipment in working condition.Besides senior officers of the police department, ADM City, officers of Kanpur Development Authority (KDA), municipal corporation, electricity department and the fire department were present in the meeting.This joint campaign of the Police Commissionerate is not limited only to regulatory action, but its objective is to make every educational institution, hospital, hotel and commercial establishment of the city safer, to prevent possible accidents, and to ensure the safety of the life and property of students, patients and common citizens.
