Kozhikode: Building owners queue up for fire department approval

KOZHIKODE: Shutting down the building complexes owned by prominent and influential people in town was a tough task for the authorities. However, the daring attempt by the Kozhikode district collector and the fire and safety department has started reaping its benefits. A week after the closure of Sky Tower commercial building, a large number of building owners, who earlier failed to comply with the rules, are now seeking approval and their applications are piling up.

Collector N. Prasanth, who also heads the Disaster Management Authority, said the buildings owned by influential people were targeted in the first phase so that it sends a direct message that all are equal before the law and the rules are to be adhered to. Measures were initiated against 15 buildings at the first stage, including KMCT. Corporation on Tuesday shut down Sky Tower near Mavoor Road on the collector's order.

“Our intention is not to close down the buildings, but to make the erring owners comply with the rules so that the lives of the tenants and users are safe. The closure comes after a five-month-long procedure and at any stage, the owner was not ready to correct the mistake. The collector has the power to act in case of imminent danger, and if the fire and safety department submits such a report, immediate action would be taken in the future too,” said Mr Prashanth, who lauded the timely intervention of the fire and safety officers and the deputy collector.

The district fire office is now receiving at least ten queries every day, says assistant divisional officer Arun Bhaskar. “After the closure, we got invitations from three of the ten buildings on notice. Twelve owners replied within the city limit, and we don’t think, at least in Kozhikode, we may not need to close anymore,” said Mr Arun, adding that the tenants were ignorant of the violations.

It was perhaps the first of its kind initiative from a district collector to close down college buildings and commercial complexes as per the caution reports submitted by the fire and safety authorities and the officials hope that would send a message across the state. On Monday, the KMCT Engineering College building was shut down by the Mukkam Municipality following a similar order from the collector who is also the district magistrate.