Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The Urban Development and Housing Department has completed the long-awaited final draft of the Madhya Pradesh Fire and Emergency Act 2025. The final draft incorporates some new amendments and, once approved, will pave the way for the implementation of the Act.
According to the draft, the Commissioner of the Urban Administration and Development Department will be the Commissioner of Fire and Emergency Services. It envisions the appointment of a Commissioner and a Director of the Fire and Emergency Service.
It says that water bodies and tanks within the jurisdiction of the Fire and Emergency Service will be mapped to ensure adequate water supply and maintain operational readiness for firefighting activities.
There will be an official web portal of the Madhya Pradesh Fire and Emergency Service for the processing of fire safety certificates or any other documentation, supervision, and control of the fire and emergency service.
The draft calls for mock drills at regular time intervals. It pitches that the state government may enter into contracts, agreements, or memoranda of understanding with a person or associations of persons for the maintenance, operational readiness, and sufficiency of infrastructure, firevehicles, and other equipment necessary for firefighting.
It also bats for the setting up of fire stations, appointment of fire officers and their duties, and issuance of fire safety certificates.
One of the provisions says that the owner or occupier of abuilding or premises whose fire safety certificate has been cancelled due to default on their part will not be entitled to occupy the building or premises on the ground of noncompliance of fire prevention and life safety measures under Section 24 of the Act which also has a penalty provision.
Also, any person or association of persons may make donations of any equipment or machinery or funds to the Madhya Pradesh Fire and Emergency Service.
Jail for obstructing firefighting & rescue operation
The Act proposes a penalty for wilfully obstructing a firefighting and rescue operation. Under this, any person who wilfully obstructs or interferes with any member of the fire and emergency
service would be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with a fine which may extend to Rs 10,000, or both. False report of a fire outbreak will also attract imprisonment, which may extend up to three months, or with fine up to Rs 10,000, or both. Apart from this, the Act says that a fire tax will be levied in the form of a surcharge on property tax.
