Water coming out from a fire hydrant at the Gandhi Market, Margao during the reality check conducted by the Fire Services on late Wednesday evening. Pics: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
After Wednesday night reality check of the fire hydrants and fire capabilities at the Margao Municipal markets, fire brigade sources have pointed out that the water pressure in some of the fire hydrants installed at the Gandhi Market is inadequate for effective firefighting operations.
The sources said the Water Supply Department should investigate the reasons behind the low pressure and take corrective measures to ensure that the hydrants are capable of supplying sufficient water during emergencies.
“The water pressure in the fire hydrants installed in the New Market area was found to be normal and adequate for firefighting operations. However, some of the hydrants at the Gandhi Market were found to have very low water pressure, making them totally inadequate for tackling fires,” the sources said.
Clarifying that the observations were not intended to expose the government or any particular department, the sources said the primary concern was to ensure that a fool proof fire safety system was put in place in both markets.
“We are not interested in exposing the government or any department over the issue of water pressure. Our only concern is to put a fool proof system in place in the markets, ensuring the availability of water at adequate pressure to facilitate fire fighting operations,” they added.
Hydrant training for MMC staff begins after month-long delay
PWD Minister Digambar Kamat issuing strict instructions to Margao Municipal officials to put a fire safety system in place in the Municipal markets.
MARGAO: Training for Margao Municipal Council (MMC) workers and security personnel manning the municipal markets will finally commence on Friday, nearly a month after the Fire and Emergency Services Department conducted a mock drill on the newly installed fire hydrants in the markets in the presence of PWD Minister Digambar Kamat.
The training programme will familiarise MMC workers and security personnel with the operation of fire hydrants and hoses so that they can take immediate action in the event of a fire breaking out in the markets, even before the arrival of the fire brigade.
Taking serious note of the delay in commencing the training, Kamat, visibly displeased over the matter, personally contacted senior fire officials and urged them to conduct the programme at the earliest. This was after senior MMC officials informed him that the council had already written to the Fire and Emergency Services Department requesting the training.
Kamat directed the fire officials to immediately train the workers and security personnel in the basic operation of fire hydrants.
The PWD Minister also issued instructions to Margao Municipal Chief Officer Madhu Narvekar and Municipal Engineer Manoj Arsekar to compile details of all security personnel deployed at the markets during both day and night shifts, along with their contact numbers.
“The names and telephone numbers will be provided to the District Disaster Management Authority and other concerned agencies, including the Fire and Emergency Services Department, PWD and MMC, so that the system can be put in place in the markets. These security personnel will function as nodal officers for their respective markets. I want the details by Friday,” Kamat directed the MMC officials.
Fire officer faces memo for flagging hydrant-related lapses to media
MARGAO: A memo is staring Margao Fire Officer Gill D’Souza for highlighting before the media the shortcomings noticed by the Fire and Emergency Services personnel during Wednesday night’s mock drill-cum-training session at the Margao New Market.
Sources said D’Souza’s only fault was that he responded to questions from the media regarding the delay in making the keys of the fire hydrant cabinets available to open them. He also answered queries about the delay in arranging the couplings required to connect the fire hydrants and commence the training exercise.
After some market traders reportedly took objection to D’Souza’s remarks to the media, PWD Minister Digambar Kamat on Thursday said the fire officer had no authority to speak to the media on the functioning of the fire hydrants or the fire safety arrangements put in place at the New Market.
“I have told the Director of Fire Services to issue a memo to Gill for speaking to the media. He has no authority to speak to the media. The Margao Municipal Chief Officer and the Administrator will brief the media. Gill is not even the head of the Margao Fire Station,” Kamat said.
He further said that the non-availability of the keys at the time of the exercise was an internal matter and should not have been brought before the media.
However, sources familiar with the developments said D’Souza made the remarks only after media persons noticed that the keys to the fire hydrant cabinets and the required couplings were not readily available when the fire brigade personnel arrived at the New Market for the exercise. The necessary keys and couplings were subsequently made available to the fire officer.
