The Kolkata fire department has warned the authorities of a Camac Street building that houses Abhishek Banerjee’s office of legal action after a re-inspection found that mandatory fire safety measures prescribed for the seventh and eighth floors had not been implemented.
Officials conducted the re-inspection on Friday, more than a month after directing the building authorities to address safety deficiencies. According to the fire department’s findings reported by the Times of India, none of the prescribed measures on the two floors had been completed.
The deficiencies included inadequate fire suppression equipment, non-functional fire detection systems and compromised emergency exit routes. The seventh and eighth floors house Banerjee’s office, making the condition of those areas a matter of concern for employees, visitors and others who may use the building.
The warning places responsibility on the building authorities to bring the premises into compliance with the fire department’s requirements. The department has indicated that failure to address the shortcomings could lead to legal action, although the report does not specify the provisions under which action may be initiated or the deadline for compliance.
Building authorities told officials that rectification work had begun on Friday morning. They said the work commenced after repeated requests, coinciding with the fire department’s visit to the premises. The report did not provide details of the contractor, the scope of the work or a completion schedule.
The episode highlights the enforcement challenge faced by authorities in commercial buildings where fire safety requirements may be prescribed but remain incomplete during follow-up inspections. Fire suppression systems, detection equipment and unobstructed emergency exits are intended to support early response and evacuation, but their absence or non-functioning condition can affect the safety of occupants.
The fire department’s next step will depend on whether the building authorities complete the prescribed rectification work and satisfy the department’s safety requirements. Further action, including the threatened legal proceedings, remains contingent on the building’s compliance.
