PANAJI
In the wake of the tragic fire at Birch by Romeo Lane, Arpora, the government on Tuesday constituted a Joint Enforcement and Monitoring Committee to carry out inspections of tourism-related establishments across the State with immediate effect.
An order issued by the Department of Home (General) stated that the committee has been formed with a view to ensuring strict adherence to fire safety norms and statutory compliance in tourism-related establishments across the State of Goa.
The committee will be chaired by a senior scale officer of the Goa Civil Service and includes a police inspector, Station fire officer of the Directorate of Fire & Emergency Services, and Executive Engineers of the Public Works Department and the Electricity Department, respectively, as its members.
As per the order, the Chairperson has been vested with magisterial powers for enforcement and monitoring. “The Chairperson is appointed as an Executive Magistrate under section 14(1) of BNSS, 2023 for the purpose of enforcement and monitoring in their respective jurisdictions,” it said.
The committee has been mandated to conduct joint inspections of tourism establishments “including but not limited to” nightclubs, bars & restaurants, hotels, guesthouses and resorts, beach shacks and temporary structures and event venues and entertainment establishments.
The committee will verify compliance with fire safety norms including Valid Fire Safety Certificate, functioning of fire-fighting equipment, emergency exits and evacuation routes, electrical installation safety, structural and occupancy, adherence to sound and lighting norms and crowd-control safety measures.
The committee has also been directed to submit monthly reports to the government through the concerned District Magistrates. The Chairperson of the committee will report directly to the District Magistrate concerned with all the directions to be enforced with immediate effect.
