Javed Ahmed Khan (Sayantan Ghosh)

The fire services department has eased norms for prospective traders, who will now get time after starting a business to put in place safety measures.

If they don’t within the stipulated period, the department will take them to task.

Anyone starting a business will have to submit, along with their application for a fire clearance certificate, an affidavit declaring that they will implement safety norms within a certain period.

The department may revoke their clearance certificates and take legal action against them if they do not adhere to the deadline, fire services minister Javed Ahmed Khan said on Monday.

Depending on the size of their units, traders would get three to six months to implement the safety guidelines.

“Our inspectors will visit each unit once the time allotted to its owner to implement safety norms has elapsed and take appropriate action,” the minister said at Writers’ Buildings.

Till now, traders needed to implement the safety measures before applying for the clearance. Many are running their businesses without bothering to apply for the clearance, which is a must to obtain a trade licence from the Calcutta Municipal Corporation.

“The relaxation of the rule will encourage those who are flouting all rules now to follow the law,” said Khan.

According to sources, more than 20,000 licence applications are now pending because the applicants were unable to meet the safety criteria. “These traders can now start their business. However, their licence may be scrapped if they do not meet the deadline,” said the minister.

Traders alleged that some of the norms are impractical. “On rented premises, it is impossible to ensure at least two entry-exit points and a water reservoir,” said Rajesh Pachisia of the Burrabazar and Posta Wholesalers’ and Retailers’ Association.

The minister said the department is thinking of relaxing some of the norms, subject to the law department’s approval. “Many landlords have refused permission to their tenants to make additional entry-exit points. Some establishments are not large enough to have underground reservoirs. We are thinking of relaxing some of the norms in such a way that fire safety is not compromised.”