KOHIMA: The Nagaland government on Friday submitted a bill in the assembly seeking to regulate and operate fire and life safety measures in the northeastern state.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio stated that the absence of legislation to oversee life and fire safety measures in high-rise buildings in the state led to the introduction of the Nagaland Fire & Emergency Services Bill.
Nagaland which has seen enormous expansion in infrastructural development in urban areas has noted big fire incidences and other risks in which loss of human life and properties have been reported, he said.
In order to minimise these incidents and hazards and save the citizens of the state, some regulations are required, he said while speaking on the bill.
To bring Nagaland's law into line with federal law, the chief minister also introduced the Nagaland Goods and Services Tax (Sixth Amendment) Bill. The assembly Speaker Sharingain Longkumer said consideration and passing of the bills would be taken up on March 27.
Several states in the Northeast has witnessed incidents of fire in the past couple of months. On Saturday, the Assam Gas Company reported a gas leak event, which immediately caused panic among the locals of Panitola Village in Assam's Tinsukia district.
The Assam Gas Company apparently has not yet taken any action in response to the situation, leaving the villagers in fear and confusion.
Three years have passed since the Baghjan blowout in May 2020 before the tragedy. Since May 27, 2020, the well number 5 at Baghjan has been ejecting gas uncontrollably. On June 9, the well caught fire, killing two OIL firefighters.
The Supreme Court in August 2021 proposed six new committees with four members each to review the Baghjan matter. After a gas condensate discharge incident from an oil well was reported in March of this year, the citizens of Baghjan filed a police report against Oil India Limited (OIL).
Also Watch: