'Most of states yet to organise Fire Service'

New Delhi, May 23: Observing that fire service is a state subject, the government today said most of the states had not even enacted suitable legislation to organise this vital service and decided to convene a meeting of the Standing Fire Advisory Council to deal with the problem in all its facets.

Making a statement in the Rajya Sabha on a calling attention notice on last month's Meerut Victoria Park blaze in which 58 people perished, Minister of State for Home S Reghupathy said the Centre sought full details from the Uttar Pradesh government, which, however, did not specify in its reply whether any No Objection Certificate (NOC) was obtained from the Fire Department for the fair.

The minister said the state government had ordered an administrative inquiry into the incident. ''Probes into the devastating fire are already being done by the Commissioner, Meerut Division and the Police Department.'' The state government had also approached the Allahabad High Court for a judicial probe, he informed the House.

Mr Reghupathy said Centre would soon convene a meeting of the Standing Fire Advisory Council to impress upon district administrations to take effective measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

The Standing Committee, headed by Director General, Civil Defence and having Heads of the State Fire Services as members, will discuss the problems and issue necessary recommendations.

On April 10, a fire caused by a short circuit at a consumer brands show in Meerut killed 58 people and injured 164. Three people were still reported to be missing.

The Bureau of Indian Standards had in 1993 published its recommendations on fire precautions during construction of temporary structures and pandals in 1993.

''The district administrations and municipal authorities have to enforce the by-laws to ensure that these measures are implemented during public outdoor assembly,'' the Minister said.

He said the recently enacted Disaster Management Act, 2005, emphasised the preparation plans at the national, state and district levels for prevention of disasters, mitigation of their effects and preparedness and capacity building for effective response.

Mr Reghupathy said the government had recommended a posthumous National Bravery award for Javed, the youth from Meerut who died rescuing around 13-14 children trapped in the fire.

Several members, including Mr Rajeev Shukla (Cong), Mr Veerendra Bhatia (SP) Mr Tarini Kanta Roy (CPI-M), Prof Ramdev Bhandari (RJD), Mr Rashid Alvi (Cong) and Mr Abani Roy (RSP), also expressed their views on the incident.

UNI