Shivers ran down the spine of many Goans after the ghastly fire that swept through the KTC Panaji terminus in the wee hours of October 2, 2017. Could have been catastrophic had it to occur during peak time. But despite a prompt report from the Fire Services that exposed the carelessness on display at the site, nothing much changed even after one year. It’s the same old messy story and nobody cares for public safety here.
This KTC terminus is a hub of public movement for a major part of the day. There are around 35-40,000 commuters using the bus stand on a daily basis. It houses 44 shops including a canteen, bank, ATM, book stalls and shops selling jewellery, gifts and garments besides four government offices on the first floor. Let’s not forget, nearly 50 per cent of RTO records were damaged in last year’s fire. The external area of the complex has around 80 shops. It is criminal to ignore safety measures that could put public life and property at risk.
What is surprising is KTCL failing to bring about a change in any of the areas seeking attention. Merely changing electrical wiring will not help because cables continue to remain tangled with electrical wires, some of which remain exposed even at junction boxes. Why have there been no checks on batteries and LPG cylinders used at the premises? Why can’t the KTC also have an independent fire-fighting mechanism? Copies of the audit report prepared by the Fire Department were promptly sent in a matter of days after the fire tragedy to the Chief Secretary, Additional Secretary, District Magistrate, Director of Transport and Commissioner of the Corporation of the City of Panaji. And surprisingly, no one moved.
The only seriousness that was on display was when establishments were asked to compulsorily equip themselves with fire prevention systems or face cancellation of licenses. But this initiative was as short as a dream. Political pulls and pressures bulldozed through and soon chaos prevailed once again.
Leave aside the illegalities of letting out premises, the KTCL has failed to show urgency on the safety aspects. Merely playing its part of moving proposals won’t make a difference in a system which works as lazily as a toad at the bottom of a well. If KTCL is to be blamed, the CCP and the Transport Department are equal partners. What are the KTC chairperson and managing director doing? Who will be responsible if tragedy strikes?
Installing portable fire extinguishers, fire alarms, smoke detectors, exit signages, fire safety signages and installing underground static water storage tank are prerequisites to any safety measures at public places.
The government should take note of these shortcomings and pull up all those responsible, before the people pull the plug on those at the helm.
