Wankhede to Host WC Matches

Last week, after two fire officials inspected the Wankhede stadium for the second time, few lapses in the arrangements of fire safety mechanism were revealed at the renovated stadium in Mumbai. Following the inspection, the Mumbai Fire Brigade had expressed displeasure over the fire safety system.

However, the city`s fire department officials on Tuesday cleared the Wankhede stadium for hosting three World Cup matches including the final of the mega-event on April 2.

Earlier, the officials had raised doubts about the safety arrangements at the revamped Wankhede stadium.

"We have given NOC to the stadium. They have fulfilled all the fire safety norms at the stadium," said deputy chief fire officer A N Shinde, who inspected the stadium with his team.

Following the fourth inspection conducted by a team of fire officials at the stadium this morning to check the fire safety mechanism Shinde said, “We have given them the compliance certificate. They can host matches. The stadium is safe and secure."

Last week, after the department had found irregularities at the stadium including sprinklers at the stands and ventilation problem in the basement, the fire department had given the lapses in writing to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA).

Among the mandatory fire apparatus that had not been installed at the popular stadium were the ring hydrant system, water hydrants, internal riser system for the stands, no-smoking indicators, fire alarms and extinguishers. "The stadium had been issued an Occupation Certificate long back. So there was no question of withholding it. We had to verify whether the changes made at the stadium are similar with the existing fire safety norms and then issue an NOC," Shinde said.

NOC is provided when the structure is adequately ventilated and has all the necessary preventive measures and systems in place. 

  

References:

http://cricket.zeenews.com/worldcup2011/story.aspx?nid=36171

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