Tells industrial, tourism sectors to obtain mandatory certificates
Robot water extinguisher displayed at the fire drill at St Inez during National Fire Service Day function.
PANAJI
Invoking the memory of last December’s deadly nightclub fire, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said the State was determined to ensure that such disasters do not recur.
Speaking at the National Fire Service Day function at St Inez, Sawant referred to major fire incidents witnessed last year -- a pointed reference to the blaze at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora that claimed 25 lives -- and said the government was committed to strengthening both prevention and response mechanisms while seeking cooperation from both industrial and tourism sectors.
“The focus must be on preparedness and strict adherence to fire safety norms. My appeal to the industrial and tourism sectors is to cooperate with the government, obtain mandatory fire safety certificates, and comply with regulations,” he said.
The remarks also come at a time when the government's recent records revealed that a large number of tourism-linked establishments, from beach shacks to hotels and guest houses, are operating without the legally required Fire Safety No Objection Certificate (NOC).
Beach shacks, among the most visible symbols of Goa’s tourism economy, illustrate the mismatch starkly. While 364 shacks have been approved across the state for the 2023-26 tourist seasons, fire NOCs have not kept pace with 222 issued in 2023, falling to 194 in 2024 and rising to 232 last year.
In 2023, only 168 hotels and 2,012 guest houses obtained NOCs; by 2025, guest house compliance dropped further to 1,479. Resorts reported zero NOCs in both 2024 and 2025, while homestays saw negligible certification.
Against this compliance deficit, the CM outlined a series of measures to overhaul the state’s fire safety infrastructure. New fire stations are planned at Sanguem and Dharbandora, while zonal fire control rooms will be established across all three districts, with proposed locations in Panaji, Margao and Curchorem.
He also announced plans for a technology-driven, citizen-centric emergency response system, as part of a broader vision to build a “Fire Safety and Resilience State,” with greater emphasis on public awareness and shared responsibility.
Fire & Emergency Services Director Nitin Raiker said the department responded to 8,021 fire and emergency calls in 2025-26, saving 165 lives and property worth Rs 63.52 crore. Many incidents, he noted, were the result of human error or negligence -- factors that stricter enforcement could mitigate.
Meanwhile, the CM inaugurated a Rapid Deployment Command and Control (RDC2) system designed to integrate communication networks for faster on-ground coordination. The observance began with wreath-laying at the martyrs’ memorial and a two-minute silence for firefighters who died in the line of duty, followed by a ceremonial parade of 12 platoons.
Fire Prevention Week, which runs from April 14 to 20 under the national theme “Safe School, Safe Hospital & Fire Safety Aware Society,” will focus on public outreach.
