Lok Sabha Question No. 256 (STARRED), answered on 2016-03-15
Subject: Fire and Emergency Services
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: BHOLA SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*256 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 15 TH  MARCH, 2016/PHALGUNA 25, 1937 (SAKA)

FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES

*256. DR. BHOLA SINGH:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has any scheme for strengthening of Fire and Emergency Services in the country and if so, the details thereof along with the funds provided in this regard during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(b) whether there is a shortage of fire stations and non supply of uniforms and necessary equipments for fire fighters, if so,  the details thereof and the action taken in this regard, State-wise;

(c)  whether  any  penalty  provision  exists  in  care  fire  safety  rules  are violated and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the other measures taken by the Government for modernisation of fire and  emergency  services  in  the  States  along  with  the  steps  taken  to ensure  implementation  of  prescribed  guidelines  of  fire  safety in all institutions/ buildings?

ANSWER

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

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

******

## STATEMENT IN REPLY TO THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*256 FOR 15.03.2016.

(a) & (b): The Fire Services  have been included as a Municipal  function under Article 243 (W) in the XII Schedule of the Constitution of India. It is the  primary  responsibility  of  the  municipal  bodies  themselves  and  the State Governments to allocate sufficient resources for strengthening and equipping  Fire  Services  with  modern  gadgets  and  technologies  and  to take various steps required for safety of life and property of the citizens in the  area  of  their  jurisdiction.  The  Government  of  India  supplement  the efforts of State Governments from time to time by providing funds.

The Government of India had provided Rs. 176.56 crore under the Scheme of 'Strengthening of Fire and Emergency Services in the country' during the  period  2009-13  to  the  States.  Apart  from  this,  Rs.  34.00  crore  to  17 States/UTs  at  the  rate  of  Rs.  2.00  Crore  each  under  the  Scheme  of 'Modernization  of  Fire  Services  in  the  country'  during  the  period  20142016  have  also  been  released.  Now,  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes have been subsumed in the State Funds with effect from 1 st  April, 2015. However, assistance to UTs with legislature for modernizing fire services have been continued in the current financial year from the Central Budget. The details of the funds released are at Annexure-I and Annexure-II.

## L.S.S.Q.NO.*256 FOR 15.3.2016

The Central Government do not maintain any data about the shortage of the  fire  fighting  equipment,  personnel  and  fire  tender/vehicles  in  the country,  as  it  is  not  a  central  subject.  However,  according  to  one  study passed out in 2011 there was a 65% deficiency in terms of Fire Stations.

(c):   Fire services are primarily handled by the municipal bodies and State Governments in accordance with the prevailing State Fire Safety Acts and Rules. Details of penalty provisions under respective State Acts and Rules are not maintained centrally.

(d): The  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  plays  an  advisory  role  in  effective maintenance  and  modernization  of fire services. The  Standing Fire Advisory Council (SFAC) under the Chairpersonship of Directorate General (Fire Service,  Civil Defence and Home Guards) have laid down norms for establishment of Fire  Stations,  Equipment,  manpower  and  fire  tenders/

….4/

## L.S.S.Q.NO.*256 FOR 15.3.2016

vehicles. These norms recommended by the SFAC are advisory in nature and  it  is  upto  State  Government  to  implement  these  norms  as  per  the available resources. The National Building Code of India, published by the Bureau  of  Indian  Standards  also  covers the detailed guidelines for construction, maintenance and fire safety of the buildings.

******

## PAGE 1 OF 1 OF ANNEXURE-I

## Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a & b) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 256* for 15.03.2016

## State wise release of funds in respect of Centrally Sponsored Scheme on 'Strengthening of Fire & Emergency Services' (2009-2013)

| Sl No.   | Name of the States   |   Rs. in crore |
|----------|----------------------|----------------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh       |           8.37 |
| 2        | Arunachal Pradesh    |           3.72 |
| 3        | Assam                |           4.37 |
| 4        | Bihar                |           7.03 |
| 5        | Chhattisgarh         |           9.79 |
| 6        | Goa                  |           0.38 |
| 7        | Gujarat              |          12.5  |
| 8        | Haryana              |           3.61 |
| 9        | Himachal Pradesh     |           4.03 |
| 10       | Jammu & Kashmir      |           2.66 |
| 11       | Jharkhand            |           3.43 |
| 12       | Karnataka            |           5.13 |
| 13       | Kerala               |           2.66 |
| 14       | Madhya Pradesh       |          22.17 |
| 15       | Maharashtra          |           6.65 |
| 16       | Manipur              |           4.71 |
| 17       | Meghalaya            |           4.83 |
| 18       | Mizoram              |           3.27 |
| 19       | Nagaland             |           5.52 |
| 20       | Odisha               |           9.7  |
| 21       | Punjab               |           3.22 |
| 22       | Rajasthan            |          17.08 |
| 23       | Sikkim               |           1.51 |
| 24       | Tamil Nadu           |          10.45 |
| 25       | Tripura              |           0.58 |
| 26       | Uttar Pradesh        |          13.3  |
| 27       | Uttarakhand          |           2.47 |
| 28       | West Bengal          |           3.42 |
|          | Total (Rs. in Crore) |         176.56 |

********

## Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a & b) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 256* for 15.03.2016

## States/UTs wise release of funds for implementation of the Scheme on Modernization of Fire and Emergency Services in the Country

| Sl No.   | Name of the State   | Amount Released (Rs. in crore) (2014-15)   |
|----------|---------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| 1.       | Andhra Pradesh      | 2.00                                       |
| 2.       | Arunachal Pradesh   | 2.00                                       |
| 3.       | Assam               | 2.00                                       |
| 4.       | Bihar               | 2.00                                       |
| 5.       | Goa                 | 2.00                                       |
| 6.       | Gujarat             | 2.00                                       |
| 7.       | Himachal Pradesh    | 2.00                                       |
| 8.       | Jammu & Kashmir     | 2.00                                       |
| 9.       | Karnataka           | 2.00                                       |
| 10.      | Maharashtra         | 2.00                                       |
| 11.      | Manipur             | 2.00                                       |
| 12.      | Meghalaya           | 2.00                                       |
| 13.      | Mizoram             | 2.00                                       |
| 14.      | Nagaland            | 2.00                                       |
| 15.      | Orissa              | 2.00                                       |
|          |                     | During 2015-16                             |
| 16.      | Delhi               | 2.00                                       |
| 17.      | Puducherry          | 2.00                                       |
|          | G. Total            | 34.00                                      |

*****