Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006, which mandates regular maintenance of fire safety systems and submission of a biannual ‘Form B’ certificate by building owners
Recent fire incidents in Mumbai have exposed non-functional fire-fighting systems in several high-rise buildings, severely hampering rescue operations and putting lives at risk. The lapses have brought renewed attention to compliance with the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006, which mandates regular maintenance of fire safety systems and submission of a biannual ‘Form B’ certificate by building owners.
Despite repeated reminders, many housing societies have failed to adhere to fire safety regulations. Others have ignored deadlines set by the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) to address critical deficiencies. To ensure compliance, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed a novel measure—imposing fines on violators through property tax bills. The proposal has been submitted to the Director of Maharashtra Fire Services for approval.
Andheri Tragedy Highlights Issue
On Monday, a fire at a high-rise building in Andheri West claimed the life of a bed-ridden senior citizen who succumbed to suffocation. The fire occurred in a three-wing building within Oberoi Complex, where internal fire-fighting systems were found to be non-operational.
A senior fire official emphasised the importance of robust fire safety systems in modern skyscrapers. “The city is rapidly witnessing the construction of 60-70-floor buildings, where a robust internal fire-fighting system is crucial to combat fires. When these systems fail, the MFB is forced to rely on external firefighting equipment. A major challenge in such cases is physically transporting the equipment to the higher floors, further complicating rescue efforts,” the official said.
Regulatory Framework & Compliance
Under Section 3 (1) of the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006, building owners or occupiers are required to provide and maintain fire safety measures. Section 3 (3) mandates the submission of a ‘Form B’ certificate twice a year, issued by a licensed agency, to certify that the fire safety equipment is operational.
In December 2024, the MFB conducted inspections of 641 establishments, including hotels, restaurants, rooftop bars, lodges, and malls. Among these, three establishments were found with non-operational fire-fighting systems and were issued notices to restore them immediately.
As per the Act, housing societies are granted a maximum of 120 days to repair faults in their fire safety systems. If repairs are not initiated within 30 days, the MFB can take prohibitory action. However, delays in legal proceedings often hinder swift enforcement.
To address this, the BMC has suggested imposing hefty fines via property tax bills. “As per the Act, each housing society is given a maximum of 120 days to repair faults in their fire-fighting system. If societies fail to begin repair work within 30 days, prohibitory action can be taken against them. However, legal proceedings take significant time, so we have requested the Director of Maharashtra Fire Services to make provisions for imposing hefty fines through property tax. This will encourage societies to implement the necessary safety measures,” explained a senior civic official.
Moving Forward
The proposal to impose fines through property tax aims to strengthen accountability and encourage timely repairs. Meanwhile, efforts to ensure compliance with fire safety measures remain a priority for the MFB.
Director of Maharashtra Fire Services, Santosh Warick, was unavailable for comment on the proposal.
The recent incidents serve as a grim reminder of the critical need for functional fire safety systems, particularly in Mumbai’s high-rises. Authorities are now focused on ensuring that such lapses are addressed to prevent further tragedies.
