Greater Noida: For everyone, their home is a safe place. However, for the residents of high-rise group housing societies in Greater Noida, this is not the case. They are living in fear in their own homes. The fire incident that happened on February 20, 2022, at Galaxy Vega Apartments, Greater Noida West, has left the residents of the entire region frightened. The residents of the high-rise residential societies of Greater Noida demand a fire audit in their societies.
The incidents of fire outbreaks are not uncommon in the high rises of Noida and Greater Noida. Moreover, recently on 17 February 2022, the living room floor of an apartment on the sixth floor of Chintels Paradiso, Gurugram collapsed and claimed two lives. This incident also worried the residents of Noida and they demanded a structural audit of their societies. Such frequent incidents pose a threat to the safety of residents in their own homes.
The population in Gautam Budh Nagar is increasing rapidly. The city is full of many high-rise buildings and many new high-rise projects are under development. Now the important questions are, whether these projects are well equipped with proper fire safety equipment and whether they are structurally strong?
Manish Kumar, Senior Vice President of NEFOWA says, “Last year NEFOWA requested the Noida Police Commissioner to conduct a fire audit in the highrise societies of GreNo. The inspections happened but the fire department did not share the fire audit reports with the residents. Residents also are unaware of the actions taken by the fire department on the builder. Now, we are demanding to start a fire audit in the remaining high-rise societies. The fire department should share the details with the residents."
Kumar shared a tweet, “श्रीमान @CP_Noida @alok24 जी, आपसे निवेदन है कृप्या GH सोसाइटियों में निवासियों के उपस्थिति में फायर ऑडिट फिर से शुरू करवाएँ एवँ निवासियों को ऑडिट उपरांत रिपोर्ट की कॉपी भी उपलब्ध करवाएँ। @cfonoida @noidapolice @Uppolice @fireserviceup @nefowaoffice @CMOfficeUP @UPGovt.”
श्रीमान @CP_Noida @alok24 जी, आपसे निवेदन है कृप्या GH सोसाइटियों में निवासियों के उपस्थिति में फायर ऑडिट फिर से शुरू करवाएँ एवँ निवासियों को ऑडिट उपरांत रिपोर्ट की कॉपी भी उपलब्ध करवाएँ। @cfonoida @noidapolice @Uppolice @fireserviceup @nefowaoffice @CMOfficeUP @UPGovt pic.twitter.com/lEacwrILMX
— Manish (NEFOWA)✍️ (@manishsmooth) February 23, 2022
Earlier, the residents of Greater Noida West also demanded another fire station in their area. As per them, due to only one fire station in Greater Noida West in Ecotech 3, it takes more than 30 minutes to reach the fire scene. On this subject, Manish Kumar says, “In Sector 16, 16B and Ecotech 12, there are 12 societies, along with industries that have their own requirement of fire tender. It takes a lot of time to reach the societies located on the other side of the 130-meter road. Moreover, to reach Gaur City 1 and 2, the fire team would need to take a longer route towards NH24 because the roundabout is closed. The Authorities should construct another fire station near Ek Murti roundabout, which will help the fire department to reach the spot as soon as possible.”
We also talked to some residents to understand why there is a need for a new fire station and fire audits. Gaurav Patel, a resident of Shri Radha Sky Garden society says, “Fire audit is necessary for all highrise societies but there should be proper monitoring of the fire audit as well. In our society, a fire audit took place last year. However, there is no improvement in fire safety, the conditions are still the same. In our society, the installed fire extinguishers are expired, there is no one to take action on the builder. The hose pipes are not working and there is a lack of fire safety in our society. I do not understand how the Greater Noida Authority gave NOC to the builder.”
Navneet Kumar, a resident of Galaxy Vega Society says, “Fire audit has happened twice in our society in the last two years. However, when on February 20, a fire broke out in our society, the fire team reached after 30 minutes of the incident. Thus, there is a need for a new fire station.”
On the occasion of 73rd Republic Day, January 26, 2022, the Noida Federation of Apartment Owners Associations (NOFAA) has started a six-month fire safety campaign for high-rise housing societies.
On this subject, Rajiva Singh, President of NOFAA says, "Gautam Budh Nagar stands second after Mumbai in having the most number of high rise societies. The concern for the safety of residents here is very real. Vertical living has become more popular in the last ten years and in GB Nagar, it is going to increase in the coming years. Thus, it is very important to pay heed to proper installation of fire safety equipment in all societies and safety of the residents should be the first priority for the authority.”
