After key-access lapses, Margao markets get nodal teams for fire emergencies

MARGAO
The Margao Municipal Council has finally appointed a team of nodal officers to take custody of fire safety system keys and coordinate emergency responses in the two fire-prone municipal markets – New Market and Gandhi Market.
The nodal officers have been tasked with ensuring immediate access to firefighting installations and effective coordination during fire emergencies in the municipal markets. The nodal officers are headed by the municipal market inspectors, with security personnel as team members.
The nodal officers will take custody of all keys required to access the fire pump room, hydrant room, hose reel cabinets and other firefighting installations, wherever provided, after jointly verifying and recording the particulars in a Key Custody and Handover Register.
They have been instructed to clearly label the keys and keep them at a designated, secure location accessible to the responsible personnel at all times, including after office hours and on holidays. The keys will not be kept in an office or cupboard that becomes inaccessible when the market office is closed.
At each change of duty, the outgoing officer or custodian shall physically hand over the keys to the incoming officer or designated substitute. The date, time, names and signatures of both persons will be entered in the register.
On receiving information about a fire, the nodal officer on duty will immediately raise the alarm and inform the Fire and Emergency Services on 101 or 112, clearly stating the market name, location, access route and known details of the incident.
The Chief Officer and the concerned market inspector will also be informed promptly. Intimation to the Fire and Emergency Services will not be delayed while awaiting instructions or the arrival of another officer.
The nodal officer will facilitate safe evacuation, keep access routes clear for fire appliances and provide responding fire personnel with the necessary keys and information regarding firefighting installations.
The nodal officers will jointly inspect the availability of keys and accessibility of firefighting installations at least twice every month and record their observations in an Inspection and Defect Register.
“Technical testing and servicing of the fire pump, hydrant system and associated installations shall be arranged through the Municipal Engineer or designated technical personnel in accordance with the prescribed maintenance schedule and Fire Department requirements. The twice-monthly checks shall supplement, and shall not replace, such testing and servicing,” the order issued by Margao Municipal Chief Officer Madhu Narvekar stated.