The Fire and Emergency Services Department on Tuesday told the High Court of Karnataka that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which has cleared eight metres of approach roads around the K.R. Market complex from encroachments and obstructions, forever has to maintain these approach roads free from any obstructions to enable easy entry of fire tenders in case of emergencies.
In its status report submitted to the court during the hearing of a PIL petition against shops put up in the emergency exist areas of the market complex, the department has also indicated that the BBMP is yet to install various fire safety equipment and yet to make functional damaged pipes, pumps, etc. The court was also informed that the BBMP has obtained fire safety recommendation certificate from the department.
The department also indicated that works on clearing the ramp in the southeast corner of the setback and the driveway in the northeast corner, and removing of seized vehicles kept in the lower basement of the market complex were under progress at the time of inspection by its officers.
A Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice L. Narayana Swamy and Justice P.S. Dinesh Kumar, which is monitoring the actions taken by the BBMP and the department to ensure that market complexes in the city are fire safety compliant, adjourned further hearing on the petition.