After Noida fire, NEA appeals factory owners to ensure fire safety system is in place

The Noida Entrepreneurs’ Association (NEA) has appealed to factory owners in the city to have fire safety measures in place and not block any of the passages in the premises, to ensure adequate avenues of escape in case of a fire.

The Noida Entrepreneurs’ Association (NEA) has appealed to factory owners in the city to have fire safety measures in place and not block any of the passages in the premises, to ensure adequate avenues of escape in case of a fire.

Six, including a director of the company, were killed in a fire in a Sector 11 factory.(Sunil Ghosh/HT File)

There are nearly 8,000 industrial units engaged in manufacturing electronics goods, chemicals, engineering tools, machinery, garments, plastic mouldings and corrugations — most of which are inflammable — in Noida.

In a fire at a CFL packaging company, Excel Greentech, on April 19, six people were killed and the building was gutted, resulting in a huge financial loss as well. One of the directors of the company was also killed in the fire.

NEA president Vipin Malhan said that besides the lapses on the part of the authorities, entrepreneurs are also to be held responsible for the incident.

“I do not have any hesitation in admitting that over 70% of the industries in Noida are running without adequate fire safety measures. So many people, including one of the directors of the company, were killed in last week’s fire,” he said.

“Not following fire safety norms can cost anybody dear. Some of the factories have defunct fire safety equipment, which needs to be replaced with modern equipment depending on the nature of activity in the factory. That is why we have appealed to our fellow industrialists to have things in place sooner than later,” Malhan said.

Last Thursday, following the fire in Sector 11, NEA had demanded an inspection of all industrial units in the city to ensure that fire safety norms are in place.

NEA is also organising a seminar on April 28 for factory owners, as the probability of fire increases in May and June due to higher temperatures. The seminar will also create awareness about the precautions that could be taken to check fire incidents among the factory owners and workers.

Another industrialist, Piyush Mangla, the joint secretary of NEA, said that he has also appealed to entrepreneurs to ensure that all passages are clear for movement of employees from one floor to the other within the factory premises. “Some of us keep packaging material and machinery in the passageways, which blocks the space. Entrepreneurs are being urged not to block the passages,” he said.