CHANDIGARH, April 29 – Municipal Corporation (MC) of Chandigarh is proposing the adoption of the Haryana Fire and Emergency Service Act, 2022, extending its provisions to the city.
The draft law, titled Haryana Fire and Emergency Service Act (Extension to Chandigarh) Act, 2025, will be presented at the General House meeting on Wednesday, April 30.
The proposed legislation would significantly lower the threshold for mandatory fire safety clearances—from buildings 15 metres tall to those measuring 9 metres or more.
MC officials confirmed that this change would align the city’s framework with contemporary fire safety standards already adopted by neighbouring states.
“The existing fire law in Chandigarh is outdated. Even Delhi has replaced the 1986 Act with a new one in 2007. It’s time we did the same,” said a senior MC official.
Currently, the Delhi Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Act, 1986, governs fire norms in the Union Territory.
It requires fire safety certificates (FSCs) only for high-rises over 15 metres. But officials noted that these provisions are no longer sufficient and have already been repealed in Delhi.
Recognising the challenges posed by Chandigarh’s heritage-rich landscape, a civic body panel studied fire safety regulations across Punjab and Haryana before recommending the Haryana model.
The proposal also addresses complications faced by historical buildings in meeting rigid fire standards, especially those laid out by the National Building Code (NBC).
Key Provisions in Proposed Act:
Mandatory fire clearances for all buildings 9m and above
NOCs required for hotels, business centres, storage units, hazardous buildings, and mixed-use structures with floor areas above 200 sqm
Educational and institutional buildings taller than 9m, all assembly buildings with incidental assembly space over 300 sqm, and structures with large basements must also comply
Residential buildings up to 16.5m are exempted
MC officials noted that existing structures larger than 500 sqm already require NOCs, but the new provisions broaden coverage.
Empowered Enforcement, New Penalties
For the first time, fire officials will gain the authority to seize materials that obstruct emergency access or increase fire risk.
The Act also proposes stricter penalties: violators may face up to three months’ imprisonment, fines up to ₹50,000, or both.
“Our aim is to enforce compliance without compromising on the unique character of Chandigarh’s heritage buildings,” said an MC official involved in drafting the policy.
Heritage Dilemma: Compliance vs Preservation
Chandigarh has around 420 high-rise buildings, most of which are heritage properties—including PGIMER, Panjab University, the UT Secretariat, and police headquarters.
These structures currently lack fire safety certification due to architectural constraints.
While the NBC requires fire extinguishers, automated sprinklers, clear escape routes, natural ventilation, and flame-resistant furniture, many heritage buildings struggle to incorporate such elements without compromising their historic fabric.
“The guidelines under the National Building Code are too stringent for buildings like ours. We want to comply, but it’s often technically or legally impossible,” said an official from one of the affected institutions.
Though the new Act won’t alter the NBC standards directly, MC officials indicated that there may be scope for exemptions.
“The UT administrator will be empowered to notify relaxations in special cases through the official gazette,” an official added.
The proposal aims to strike a balance between public safety and architectural preservation—an issue that has long delayed comprehensive fire compliance in Chandigarh.
