Context :- 

Blaze safety is being miserly back-burnered in the state capital where Durga Puja organisers are busy splurging on spectacular theme pandals and illuminations.And, this less-than-frugal fervour when it comes to fire preparedness rides on the serious lack of punitive measures against rogue clubs and committees in the past. While the authorities concerned don’t sound convincing in their reply about safety audit at 200-plus pandals in and around the city, organisers seem content without the mandatory fire NOC just because they have a few fire extinguishers and sand buckets to flaunt.

Fire Safety in India :- 

It is estimated that about 70% of the Indian population will be living in the urban areas by 2050. Though they are enough regulations & laws but their implementation is wanting which creates problems of water supply, fire safety, traffic, floods, energy efficiency & others in the cities & towns. The recent fire in a Mumbai pub is just an example.

What is lacking in the Indian urban regulations:-

• BUSINESS-BUREAUCRACY NEXUS- Because of this the building norms, fire safety regulations & other norms are neglected which coats the lives of the people at large.
• LACK OF TECHNOLOGY- Lack of use of technology like LIDAR, satellites, big data & CCTV create problems related to women's safety etc
• LACK OF COORDINATION- The coordination between municipal corporation,police, govt, & other stakeholders is lacking which results into incidents like stampede which recently occurred at a station in Mumbai
• POLICY-FORMULATION- Policy also lacks sometimes. Lack of proper funds, lack of willingness & corruption are other reasons.
• Since urban development is a state subject leading to non uniformity also not proper implementation of 74th amendment and subsequently lack of coordination is further becoming impediment in its development
• Government or bureacrat nexus with businessmen letting them breach statutory rules of effective building mechanism easily thus creating further problems
   

Though some urban areas have done tremendous exemplary jobs in different fields. For example- Indore in field of solid waste management. So the need is to:-

•  Break the business-bureaucrat nexus & bring transparency in the governance
• Strict implementation of laws & regulations. fOr example- Environment Protection Act, Wetlands Act etc
• Making people aware about the importance of the use of public vehicles, energy efficient appliances,rain harvesting & other eco-freindly measures to reduce carbon emissions
• Robust urban planning, cluster approach cam be adopted, learning from other countries like Japan, Israel. In Israel,80% of the water is recycled.
• Third party audit of safety norms in buildings, penalty for the deterrents
• Focus on green industry, green transport & green energy
•  Coordination & cooperation among different parties
• Municipal bonds, making Mayor the elected post can be helpful, use of technology etc

The schemes like Smart Cities, HRUDAY, SBA can be helpful to reform urban planning in India but willingness & robust measures are required for that