Alarming !!! Over 80% of Pune’s Industrial Units Operate Without Fire Compliance

In the wake of the tragic factory fire in Talawade, a disturbing revelation has emerged, indicating that a staggering 80% of the more than 5,500 small industrial units in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporations, and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) areas lack essential fire compliance and lack a fire no-objection certificate (NOC).

The shocking details surfaced as authorities conducted on-ground inspections and document reviews across various industries following the Talawade factory fire tragedy, which has seen a rising death toll.

As concerns escalate over the increasing casualties in the Talwade incident, attention is now directed towards the absence of adequate fire safety measures in industrial setups, putting the lives of thousands of workers in jeopardy within the commercial sector.

Pune District, evolving as an Industrial Hub across diverse sectors, has witnessed numerous minor and major fire incidents due to the lack of precautions to prevent industrial accidents, according to officials.

Notably, industrial hubs in Kharabwadi, Khed, Chakan, Hadapsar, Pirangut, Kondhwa, Katraj, Mohammadwadi, Sanaswadi, and other locations in Pune collectively house thousands of industrial units, with only a meager 20% having complied with fire safety regulations, as per PMRDA fire department officials.

The recent Talawade incident saw the death toll rise to 12, prompting a deeper concern for the safety of industrial workers. Civic officials revealed that over 3,000 illegal industrial units employing more than 1 lakh people have been operating in restricted areas under PCMC jurisdiction for several decades.

In response, civic authorities initiated a survey, identifying 75,000 commercial establishments, of which 90% were found to be violating safety norms. This incident, reminiscent of a June 2021 tragedy at SVS Aqua Technologies in Pirangut, underscores the urgent need for comprehensive fire compliance and disaster management plans to minimize property damage and loss of life.

Despite recent efforts to regularize and enforce fire compliance in unorganized industrial units, many still fall short, with outdated firefighting systems and inadequate training for industrial workers posing significant risks during fire outbreaks.

In response to the escalating crisis, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, announced measures to impose restrictions on dangerous industries, install CCTVs in high-risk areas, and curb illegal activities surrounding companies to enhance overall safety.