Lok Sabha Question No. 223 (STARRED), answered on 2016-05-10
Subject: Fire Safety
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAJENDRA AGRAWAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*223 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH  MAY, 2016/VAISAKHA 20, 1938 (SAKA)

FIRE SAFETY

*223. SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  the  norms laid down for establishment of fire stations in the country along with the number of fire stations set up so far, State-wise;

(b) whether the Government has assessed the requirement of fire stations in  the  States,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  assistance  being provided for setting up of new fire stations, State-wise;

(c)  whether  the  Government  has  provided  funds  for  research  project  on fire safety through academic institutions in the country;

(d)  if  so,  the  details  of  such  ongoing  projects  along  with  the  total  funds granted, released and utilised so far in this regard, institution and Statewise; and

(e) whether  in  view of frequent fire incidents in the country, the Government has any proposal to issue fire safety advisories/guidelines to the States and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

******

## STATEMENT IN REPLY TO THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*223 FOR 10.05.2016.

(a) & (b): As per the Constitution of India  Article 243 (W) Schedule XII, maintenance  of  Fire  Service  is  a  Municipal  function.  It  is  therefore  the primary responsibility of the Municipal bodies and the State Governments to provide adequate number of fire stations, fire tenders and trained manpower. The Standing Fire Advisory Council (SFAC)  constituted  by  the Government of India, having representatives of all State Governments, has laid  down  certain  norms  for  establishment  of  Fire  Stations,  Equipment, Manpower and Fire tenders/vehicles etc. It has recommended establishment of Fire Stations in the Country based on the response time which is 5 to 7 minutes in Urban areas and 20 minutes in Rural areas. These norms recommended by SFAC are advisory in nature. Taking these norms into  account M/s Risk Management Solutions Inc. (RMSI), engaged by the Ministry of Home Affairs, carried out Fire and Risk Hazard analysis in the country and as per its report there are 2987 fire stations available in the country against the requirement  of 8559  fire  stations  showing  65% deficiency.  State  wise  number  of  operational  fire  stations  is  given  at Annexure-I.

….3/

## L.S.S.Q.NO.*223 FOR 10.05.2016

(c) to (e):    The Government of India has from time to time assisted efforts taken  by  the  State  Government  in  improvement  of  Fire  Services  in  the country. The National Fire Service College, Nagpur (NFSC) provides training to  the  Fire  Officers  of  the  country  in  advanced  techniques  of  fire  fighting and  rescue  keeping  in  mind  changes  such  as  industrialization,  growth  of Indian industry, growing urbanization etc.

The  Government  of  India  under  a  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  had provided  funds  to  the  tune  of  Rs.  176.56  crore  during  2009-2013  for strengthening of fire and emergency services to States/UTs.  In addition, a sum  of  Rs.  30  crore  to  States  during  2014-15  and  Rs.  4.00  crore  to  two Union  Territories  with  legislature  during  2015-16  under  another  scheme 'Modernization of Fire services in the country (2014-16)' were  also provided.

Apart from the above, based on the recommendations of the 10 th , 11 th and 13 th  Finance Commission, Rs. 80 crore, Rs. 201 crore and Rs. 404 crore respectively were also released to the states by the Government of India.

…..4/

## L.S.S.Q.NO.*223 FOR 10.05.2016

The  Government  has  taken  note  of  frequent  fire  incidents  in  the country and issued several fire safety advisories to the State Governments. Further,  the  Directorate  General  (Fire  Services,  Civil  Defence  &  Home Guards) also regularly prepares and supplies fire safety publicity/educational material, both printed and electronic, to State Governments, Public Sector Undertakings, and Private Industries to create awareness in the Public.

The National Disaster Management Authority has also issued guidelines  during  April,  2012  with  the  objective  of  standardizing  scaling/ type of equipment and training of man power to modernize and improve fire fighting capabilities in the country.

********

## PAGE 1 OF 1 OF ANNEXURE - I L.S.S.Q.NO.*223 FOR 10.05.2016

## Number of operational Fire Stations in India as per M/s RMSI Report 2012.

| Sl.No.   | States/UTs             | Number of Operational Fire Stations   |
|----------|------------------------|---------------------------------------|
| 1        | A & N Islands          | 20                                    |
| 2        | Andhra Pradesh         | 251(including Telangana)              |
| 3        | Arunachal Pradesh      | 13                                    |
| 4        | Assam                  | 110                                   |
| 5        | Bihar                  | 102                                   |
| 6        | Chandigarh             | 7                                     |
| 7        | Chhattisgarh           | 33                                    |
| 8        | Dadra and Nagar Haveli | 1                                     |
| 9        | Daman and Diu          | 3                                     |
| 10       | Delhi                  | 53                                    |
| 11       | Goa                    | 15                                    |
| 12       | Gujarat                | 183                                   |
| 13       | Haryana                | 82                                    |
| 14       | Himachal Pradesh       | 25                                    |
| 15       | Jammu and Kashmir      | 163                                   |
| 16       | Jharkhand              | 31                                    |
| 17       | Karnataka              | 182                                   |
| 18       | Kerala                 | 100                                   |
| 19       | Lakshadweep            | 4                                     |
| 20       | Madhya Pradesh         | 292                                   |
| 21       | Maharashtra            | 157                                   |
| 22       | Manipur                | 16                                    |
| 23       | Meghalaya              | 32                                    |
| 24       | Mizoram                | 12                                    |
| 25       | Nagaland               | 9                                     |
| 26       | Odisha                 | 180                                   |
| 27       | Puducherry             | 13                                    |
| 28       | Punjab                 | 48                                    |
| 29       | Rajasthan              | 126                                   |
| 30       | Sikkim                 | 9                                     |
| 31       | Tamil Nadu             | 303                                   |
| 32       | Tripura                | 35                                    |
| 33       | Uttar Pradesh          | 237                                   |
| 34       | Uttarakhand            | 33                                    |
| 35       | West Bengal            | 107                                   |
|          | Total                  | 2987                                  |

******