OTV Flouts Fire Safety Norms at Office Building, Fire Service Dept Writes Letter to Jaggi Panda

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Fire Service Department today expressed its concerns over the non-compliance of shortfalls and deviation in respect to fire and life safety measures in the floor office building of Odisha Television (OTV) here.

The Odisha Fire and Disaster Response Academy (OFDRA), Bhubaneswar wrote a letter to OTV MD Jagi Mangat Panda in this regard.

A team of Fire Service Officers inspected the compliance to the fire and life safety measures of the office building of OTV on 7.10.2020 and observed that the building has been sanctioned occupancy permission by BDA, Bhubaneswar exclusively for office purpose. But the basement of the building is being used as Studio, Dining Hall and Make-up Rooms etc violating the occupancy permission of the BDA, Bhubaneswar. Also the basement which was permitted for parking has been converted to the above usages, the letter said.

The studio contains many fire prone materials and electronics server room etc having threat of fire hazard. Many staffs are working in the basement studio. In case of any fire hazard there may be loss of lives as there is no ventilation system in the basement, it reads.

The OFDRA has urged the OTV management to comply the shortcomings and deviations and intimate to it for further inspection for issue of Fire Safety Certificate.

In case of any loss of life due to fire hazard the management will be held responsible, it added.