Kerala : District Collector orders closure of KMCT Medical College

KOZHIKODE: On the plea of provisions under the Disaster Management Act (DMA), the KMCT Medical College building, in Mukkom municipality, is to be shut down for not complying to the fire safety measures, as per the directives of the District collector, N. Prasanth.

Collector N. Prasanth, in his capacity as Chairman, District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has ordered Secretary, Mukkom Municipality, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Thamarassery, and Assistant Divisional Officer, Department of Fire and Rescue Service, to initiate closure of the unsafe structure. This order has come on the basis of Section 30 (2) v, xi, xi, xii, [measures for the purpose of disaster management in the district in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the National Authority and State Authority] Section 33 [measures for the prevention or mitigation of disaster] and Section 34 (c) [for the purpose of assisting, protecting or providing relief to the community in response to any threatening disaster situation] of the DMA.

The action has been taken in view of the management overlooking the Fire and Rescue Services order issued on May 17, asking it to undertake repairs in connection with fire safety. As observed in the report of the Assistant Divisional Officer- Fire and Rescue Services, the management has not rectified many of the defects pointed out in connection with fire safety, even after a lapse of two months of the instruction. The building now calls for closure, till all amends were made, the report adds.

“The building is still unsafe in fire protection point of view. It is convinced that the parties have violated safety rules and a disaster is impending if the safety norms are not complied with immediately,” Mr. Prasanth said.

Speaking about the Sum Disaster, the collector said that the building would remain closed till compliance of the directions issued by the Assistant Divisional Officer, Fire and Rescue Services.

The Principal, KMCT Medical College reacting to the District Collector’s directive said, they had undertaken repairs as per the collector’s earlier directive and the college repairs were complete. The hospital rectifications are underway, she added.