AP Fire Dept Chief Addresses Corruption Claims

Faced with numerous complaints, director general of disaster response and fire services, Pratap Madireddy, came up on Sunday with an open letter, asking such aggrieved people to contact him directly.

The complaints were raised in the public domain mainly by real estate developers, business representatives and SEZ owners in relation to issuance of NOCs and fire safety certificates.

The DG’s open letter to stakeholders said, “The fire safety department is committed to ensure adequate fire safety measures. To ensure integrity and competence, we select inspection officers from outside our jurisdiction. Please do not provide them with any monetary compensation.”

“If any officer seeks a favour, I encourage you to report this to me directly at my personal phone number, 9441236448. Your concerns will be addressed, and you will not face any repercussions,” he said.

“If you encounter any challenges, please feel free to visit my office without a prior appointment. I welcome your presence. Furthermore, I advise you against trusting intermediaries or liaison individuals, as we do not employ such representatives.”

He made it clear that “individuals are free to engage any contractor of their choosing.” Fire department officials should not endorse or recommend specific vendors or contractors,” he said and advised the public against unethical practices that could result in unsafe conditions and revocation of the NOCs issued for their premises.

“The entire NOC issuance process is conducted transparently and free from corruption or harassment,” he claimed.

He emphasised the importance of addressing challenges to meet the requirements outlined by the National Building Code (NBC) guidelines.