Priya engages firm to meet fire-safety norms

KOLKATA: From mounting water sprinklers and smoke alarms at the main auditorium to installing new fire hydrants and down-comer systems, Priya authorities have started working on all the stipulations laid down by the fire services department so they can restart screening of shows.
“We are sticking to all the guidelines laid down by the fire services department.It is extremely difficult to comply with all these norms in a 64-year-old building. But we have to do the revamp work if the fire department deems so,” said owner Arijit Dutta.

The fire department, after inspections, had said the fire on August 5 had originated in Dutta’s office on the first floor of the five-storey building. Officials declared the building to be “high risk” and asked the authorities to immediately shut down all commercial establishments on the premises.
“We had found a number of loopholes in our fire audit. The smoke detectors, fire hydrant and fire pump had malfunctioned and there were no sprinklers. The booster pump installed on the terrace connected to the overhead water reservoir with the down-comer system was also defunct and we asked the authorities to update the fire safety system and seek a fresh clearance before resuming operation on the premises,” said a fire department officer.
“I had almost made up my mind to not open the premises as a cinema hall any more. We are the only single-screen theatre to have updated fire safety measures, but were still grounded. I had a stiff fight within the family whether to continue it as a theatre, but finally we decided to comply with the new norms,” said Dutta.
Dutta said they have hired a firm specialising in fire safety who have been working on the premises for the past week. “We have already completed installation of sprinklers at the auditorium. Once the work is complete, we will approach the fire department for clearance,” he said.