Game zones and recreation centres in the state will soon be put under a special category as the government is working on new rules for them under the Gujarat Comprehensive General Development Control Regulations (CGDCR).
The move comes after the fire tragedy at the TRP Game Zone in Rajkot that killed over 30, many of them children.
Till now, game zones were escaping certain rules owing to the loopholes in the CGDCR. The government’s plan is to amend the CGDCR and term game zones and recreation centres as special structures. These special structures will have separate stringent regulations. The state will also change the fire NOC regulations for them.
Special permissions for game zones and recreation centres will be made mandatory. The CGDCR, approved in 2014, had covered all such centres under a special recreation zone category. However, many such centres have come up in malls. As per existing rules they don’t need separate permission, said official sources.
Under the proposed amendments, all fun zones, game zones and recreational centres will have to separately take BU permissions and Fire NOC. It will not be part of mall regulations.
State-wise survey
A survey of such existing centres will also be carried out throughout the state and action will be taken against them, which may include downing their shutters permanently, the official said.
As for the fire NOC, the Chief Fire Officer of each city and town will be authorised to give permission. At present, the station fire officers give fire NOCs. Once the changes come into effect, the station fire officers will be required to do a ground check and submit a report for fire NOC to the CFO. The CFO will have to mandatorily go for a physical inspection and then approve the licence.
The CFO and his team will have to conduct regular fire checks from time to time as stipulated by the government. According to the existing rules, once the fire NOC is given there are no further inspections, and there is no system to ensure licence renewal.
In the new draft proposal, the responsibility of owners of such zones will also be fixed in case fire NOCs are not renewed. At present, there is a system of online applications for fire renewal but few renewals happen. Now a proposal for renewal applications at the fire station is under consideration to ensure strict compliance.
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