Himachal Govt to ease ‘Fire Safety norms’ for boosting Tourism
Photo used for indicative purpose only. Source: Internet
Shimla, March 28,
The Himachal Pradesh government has assured members of the state assembly that it will ease fire safety norms to support the tourism industry while approving construction plans for hospitality units intended for commercial ventures in the state.
Responding to queries raised by Congress members Bhuvneshwar Gaur and Harish Janartha, along with BJP member Babvir Verma during question hour, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that the government is concerned about the negative growth rate in the hospitality sector, which has been impacted due to stringent fire safety regulations.
“I was unaware that a fire safety NOC was mandatory for setting up hotels. However, it is clear that such strict compliance may not be feasible for heritage buildings. It has been found that if a heritage building catches fire, it becomes difficult to control the situation. Therefore, we must explore ways to provide fire safety measures from the outside of such buildings,” said the Chief Minister, who also holds the fire safety portfolio.
He emphasized that the government is taking the issue seriously and is committed to promoting tourism by facilitating the construction of new hospitality units.
Seeking to ease fire NOC requirements, Balbir Verma and Harish Janartha suggested that, for the construction of double staircases, sufficient space within the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) should be provided. They proposed allowing the second staircase in the setback area and outside the FAR. They also highlighted inconsistencies in fire safety norms between municipal corporations and the Town and Country Planning (TCP) authorities.
In response, the Chief Minister assured that, under umbrella rules, the government would make policy decisions to address the concerns raised by the members. He also clarified that construction on the valley side could obstruct the scenic view, which would not be suitable for hospitality units. As a result, the government plans to focus on improving the policy framework, allowing construction toward the hill view side and restricting buildings to a maximum of three stories.
Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania supported Harish Janartha’s suggestion of allowing staircases outside the FAR, acknowledging it as a constructive idea.
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