Nothing seems to have changed on ground regarding defunct fire hydrants, no dedicated water supply network, or overhead water tank at pick-up stand
File photo of the December 26, 2023 fire that engulfed the MMC New Market.
MARGAO
Are the concerned authorities, including the district Disaster Management Authority, Margao Municipal Council, Fire Services or the PWD, water supply waiting for another fire mishap to engulf the congested fire prone Margao Municipal New Market – the commercial capital’s hub of trade and commerce, to put a fire fighting mechanism in place?
On December 26, 2023, a raging fire burnt down couple of shops, triggered panic in the New Market, the home for 400-odd small business establishments. Market traders, politicians, civic, fire and disaster management officials et al, who all rushed to the market, strongly batted for fire prevention measures at the Portuguese era market. Joint inspections that followed under the aegis of the district Disaster Management Authority had proposed a slew of measures to tone up the fire prevention mechanism in the New market as well as the adjoining Gandhi market.
It would be a year in another month and half since the inferno had exposed the fire prevention mechanism deficiencies in the Margao Municipal markets. Sadly, the ground reality has not changed for the better post-December 26.
Other than the Power department conducting a survey of the establishments located in both the New market and the Gandhi market on power load aspects, nothing seemed to have changed on the ground till date.
Be it the defunct fire hydrants, a dedicated water supply network, an overhead water tank at the adjoining pick-up stand, besides the slew of measures mulled by the Fire department, all have gone abegging in the last 10 months and half.
Interestingly, the last time the Disaster Management panel had met to discuss the fire prevention measures was before the Lok Sabha election code of conduct came into force earlier this year. Post-elections, neither the Disaster Management panel nor the concerned authorities have ever met to review the situation.
Recommendations
by Fire services
Directional exit signs: The Directional Exit Signs shall be installed internally in the market at appropriate places for giving proper direction for the people and in big EXIT letters at all the gates shall be installed and conspicuously displayed in the market premises for the evacuations of the occupants in time of any eventuality.
Exit requirement: Every Exit, Exit Access or Exit Discharge shall be continuously maintained free from all obstruction or impediment to full use in case of Fire or other Emergency.
Fire team volunteers: The team of volunteers among the shop owners shall be formed from fire safety point of view to check surprisingly electrical fittings and operation of fire extinguisher to keep the fire protection measures in the market premises in working condition.
Fire retardant paint: All shops owner shall be instructed to paint their shop internally with fire retardant paint and provide with fire curtains of minimum one hour fire resistant to avoid quick spread of Fire in their own premises.
Passage for fire services vehicles: Adequate passage way clearance required for the fire fighting vehicles to enter the premises shall be provided at all the gate entrances.
First aid fire extinguisher: The licensing authority shall mandatorily require the shop owners for providing minimum two first aid fire extinguishers.
