The Bombay High Court has asked the BMC to revise its 2009 compensation policy for fire fighters by increasing the compensation paid to families of deceased personnel and providing jobs to their kin. A division bench of Justices Abhay Oka and A.A. Sayed was hearing a PIL filed by advocate Dr. Sharmila Ghuge that sought directions to authorities to take appropriate steps to save lives of the public at large, which is being jeopardised by the non-implementation of fire safety laws and regulations, including The Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006.
Dr. Ghuge referred to the India Risk Survey 2013 for May-August 2012, which said nine major fire incidents had been reported. The PIL also seeks directions from courts to utilise funds collected as ‘Fire Protection Fund’ or ‘Fire Service Fees’ or other charges collected in the name of fire safety, for sophisticated firefighting equipment.
The BMC filed an affidavit stating kin and wards of deceased firemen are provided with monetary compensation and employment in the civic body on priority basis.
It also said that legal heirs of the four senior officers who lost their lives in the July 2015 fire at Kalbadevi have been duly compensated.
