KOLKATA - Clearance from the fire services would henceforth be mandatory for issuing trade licenses for shopping malls, multiplexes, cinema halls and restaurants in Kolkata Municipal Corporation areas. The decision was taken following a meeting between the civic body and state fire and emergency department after the city witnessed several big fires in recent times. In the meeting it was decided that "pre-clearance' from the fire department would be made compulsory for getting trade licenses from KMC for 17 kinds of establishment which includes shopping malls, hotels and restaurants, multiplexes and cinema halls, nursing homes and private hospitals, diagnostic clinic and pathological laboratory. Educational institutions like private schools, colleges, nurseries and creches also feature in the list as does the petrol pumps and LPG godowns, liquor, plastic and leather manufacturing units as wells as ceremonial houses. Other establishments falling outside the purview would be given conditional certificate which would require the owner to get a no objection certificate from fire department. At present the KMC issues nearly Rs 4.5 lakh trade licenses every year. The city has witnessed at least two fire accidents in this year, one at Nandaram market in Burrabazar and the other more recently at the Mullickghat flower market. According to Mr PS Kathiresan, the secretary of the fire department, "It is often seen that once the owner gets the trade license from KMC they do not bother to wait for our clearance. But linking up of the NOC from fire department with trade licenses may put an end to this practice. We would follow this up with other municipalities as well.' An official of the fire department pointed out that majority of the establishments in the city do not have proper fire fighting arrangements at present. The KMC and fire department would also conduct joint inspection in areas like Burrabazar, Tangra, Topsia, Tiljala and Kasba at manufacturing units being run without trade licenses or NOC from the fire department. The KMC would soon issue notification on this matter once it is cleared by the mayor-in-council.