India, March 13 -- All municipal corporations sanctioning buildings exceeding 70 metres in height must be equipped with fire-fighting vehicles and other equipment suited for highrises. This has been mandated by a government resolution (GR) issued by the state urban development on Thursday.

The Mumbai fire brigade has a vast network of snorkels, aerial ladder platforms, sky lifts and turn table ladders as part of its fire-fighting services, but many corporations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) are ill-equipped. For instance, Kalyan, a rapidly expanding city in MMR, has just one turn table ladder, while Bhiwandi has an ill-equipped fire force.

The GR said urbanisation in the state is increasing rapidly, and major cities have a lar...