No events such as live shows, exhibition, carnival or festivals, can be conducted without a temporary fire licence.
A Bill which was introduced by Law Minister S.Repathy in the Assembly to repeal and re-enact the TN Fire Services Act 1985 also says the event organiser should obtain a temporary fire licence after making an application in a form on the online portal.
A former officer of Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services said the new law Tamilnadu Fire and Rescue Services Act, 2025 has been brought since the old one was outdated. Fire safety regulations or norms of National Building Code of India, Model Building Bye-laws, 2016, Oil Industry Safety Directorate guidelines and Explosive Act and Rules relating to fire prevention are added.
The new law stipulates that the government may, by notification, require the erector of a pandal or owner or occupier of any premises in any area which in their opinion, are likely to cause a risk of fire, to take such precautions as may specified in such notification. While the fire prevention and life safety measures in the pandals are made self-regulatory, it is also lawful for fire service officers to enter and inspect the pandal.
The provisions of new law also makes it compulsory for the appointment of fire safety officer by every owner or occupier or an association of such owners to ensure effective fire prevention and life safety measures of hazardous industry or factory or commercial or public building or premises under substantive fire risk categories.
Published - April 29, 2025 01:12 am IST
