Will not burden citizens: Shiv Sena against fire service fee

Mumbai Fire Brigade’s circular mentioned charging the fee from buildings’ developers or even occupiers. File pic/AFP

After the BJP, the Shiv Sena has also opposed the fire brigade's circular stating that a one-time fire service fee should be collected by the BMC from buildings built between March 3, 2014, and June 6, 2021.

With BMC polls due next year, the Shiv Sena brought up this matter at the standing committee meeting on Wednesday, and party leaders said they will oppose all proposals that burden the citizens with additional taxes or charges.

The committee adjourned one of the statutory meetings of the civic body's elected representatives. Vishakha Raut, the leader of the house and Sena corporator, called for adjournment motion that was immediately accepted by all parties.

The circular, about which mid-day reported on Wednesday, mentioned that the fire service fee should be taken from developers or owners/occupiers or architects of the building, which will be a one-time fee due towards the corporation.

BJP MLA Ameet Satam, in a letter to the civic commissioner, had said this was a scam. He had pointed out that as the occupation certificate is given to buildings, many housing societies may have to pay the fire service fee, which should ideally be paid by the developer.

The fire department has to collate data of buildings which were given permissions for construction from March 3, 2014, to June 6, 2021, and also to identify the area of the buildings and draft the due amounts for recovery of one-time fee in the form of fire service charges and send out notices. According to civic officials, the charges would be anywhere between Rs 10 to Rs 15 per square meter that the developer or the owner/occupier may have to pay.