HYDERABAD: Several hospitals in the city are operating dangerously, records of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation have revealed. As per the civic body records, over 1,700 hospitals fall under its jurisdiction of which 90% hospitals are said to be non-compliant with fire safety norms.
Most hospitals gave a selfdeclaration form to obtain and renew their fire no objection certificates (NOC) since October 2018. This, only after the enforcement, vigilance and disaster management (EVDM) wing served them notices warning them of stringent action which included sealing of establishment and criminal cases against management.
There have been instances where residents have raised issue over hospitals in their locality not following adequate norms. “A hospital located in our colony is risking the life of people living in its vicinity. Government should not allow commercial establishments, especially hospitals, in residential localities,” said Ridhima V, a resident of MLA Colony in Banjara Hills Road Number 12. Another resident from new MLA quarters on Basheerbagh Road pointed out that a nursing home was operating out of a residential unit at Liberty Circle around 150 metres from the GHMC head office.
Meanwhile, GHMC officials said that hospital managements have been warned. “After EVDM’s warning, 1,013 hospitals submitted a self declaration form with details of fire safety measures taken,” said a civic official. The plan was to verify details submitted by hospitals and issue an NOC if found compliant while sealing those that were violating norms. However, this process halted midway. “EVDM, in the months of January and February, turned its focus towards encroachments and since the lockdown, staffers have been deployed on Covid-19 duty so the process is pending,” said a GHMC official.
Courtesy TOI
