Fire officials unhappy with safety norms at Wankhede

Mumbai, Feb 18 (PTI) Expressing displeasure at thenon-compliance of fire safety norms at the revamped Wankhedestadium, venue of the 2011 World Cup final, the city firebrigade department today said it will seek a reply from theMumbai Cricket Association (MCA) in this regard.

"We will soon write a letter to the MCA stating there isa need to comply with fire safety norms at the stadium. Oncethey abide by the terms we would again conduct an inspection,"Chief Fire Officer Uday Tatkare told PTI.

On Wednesday, two fire officials, who visited the stadiumfor the second time to inspect the fire safety mechanism inplace, found some lapses in the arrangements.

"The team has found that the newly renovated stadium hasmany loopholes in its fire safety mechanism. The stadium mustbe in compliance with the fire safety conditions," Tatkaresaid.

"Among the mandatory fire apparatus are ring hydrantsystem, water hydrants, internal riser system for the stands,no-smoking indicators, fire alarms and extinguishers have tobe installed. There are some lapses which they need tofollow," a fire officer said on condition of anonymity, butrefused to elaborate on the lapses at the stadium.

Meanwhile, MCA joint secretary Lalchand Rajput said theassociation had not received any sort of communication fromthe fire brigade department.

"We have not received any sort of communication be itwritten or oral from the fire brigade department," he said.

Wankhede Stadium, that went into the redevelopment modesoon after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League on June1, 2008, is to stage two other World Cup ties, apart from thesummit contest on April 2.

The matches would be held on March 13 (New Zealand vCanada - a day match) and March 18 (New Zealand v Sri Lanka -a day/night match).