Government of Gujarat targets private hospitals, but plays with fire in BJ medical hostels

Ahmedabad: Gujarat has been cracking down on private hospitals that lack fire safety systems and BU permissions, yet the hostels and staff quarters of BJ Medical College do not have fire safety systems or NOCs. The buildings are located on the grounds of the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital in Gujarat, the largest hospital in the state.
For the past few days, the students of the college have also been protesting poor living conditions at the hostels. Sources told Mirror that the nursing institute, PG Hostel 1-2 and C-Block do not have fire NOCs. Meanwhile, the authorities, instead of pulling up their socks and installing necessary fire systems in place, are busy passing the buck.
According to sources, the student association too has made representations seeking fire extinguishers in the hostels but to no avail. The doctors and staff quarters in the IGP compound also lack a fire safety system. Similar is the situation in the nursing college and the hostel behind B J Medical College. No fire safety measures have been taken and the authorities do not seem to be planning them either.
Deputy Principal of Nursing Institute Maya Tana refused to comment on the matter and asked this correspondent to speak to Principal Harish Chaudhary. However, the latter did not respond to our calls.
Asked about lack of fire safety measures in the buildings and quarters on Ahmedabad Civil’s premises, Medical Superintendent Dr Rakesh Joshi said, “As far as matters pertaining to PG hostel and doctors’ hostel are concerned, they are the responsibility of the dean. We are responsible for the fire safety system in the staff quarters. We will check all our buildings and take necessary action to install fire safety equipment and apply for NOC.”