Despite an extended deadline set by the State Government, residents and institutions in Jabalpur showed little interest in obtaining fire safety certificates from the Jabalpur Municipal Corporation (JMC). On the final day of the extension, i.e. December 31, 2024, not a single application was submitted. Kushagra Thakur, Superintendent Fire Department of JMC confirmed that no certificates were issued on the last day of the deadline. He informed that in December, around 25 certificates were made. The JMC has now written to the relevant State government department, seeking guidance on further action, including whether fines should be imposed on non-compliant property owners. It may be mentioned that the State government had granted temporary relaxation on fire safety certification requirements till December 31. The government had given additional time to the hotels, hospitals, multi-story buildings and apartment owners to meet fire safety standards.

 

The JMC had urged building owners, developers and institutions to take advantage of the extension to comply with fire safety regulations. The civic body emphasised the importance of adhering to fire safety standards to prevent accidents and ensure public safety. With the relaxation period now over, the JMC is preparing to impose penalties on those who failed to secure their fire safety certificates. According to a departmental circular dated December 16, 2022, Clause 5.2 states that a fine of Rs 500 per day will be levied for delays in submitting fire plans. This amount increases to Rs 1,000 per day after one year of non-compliance.