MARGAO
Old and burning issues returned back to haunt the authorities and the powers that be as the latest fire incident in the New Market on Tuesday showed that the Margao Municipality-owned mega market is a ticking bomb ready to explode for lack of fire-fighting measures.
This is not the first time that fire has broke out in the New Market in recent years, but every time the market is engulfed by fire, burning issues such as the defunct fire hydrants, lack of overhead water tank, absence of water pressure in the water line, congested roads hampering quick movement of the fire brigade et al come into sharp focus again. A report.
Defunct fire hydrants
When the New Market building was engulfed by a massive fire, the fire hydrants installed around the mega market ought to have been the focus of attention. For, the fire hydrants were installed decades ago to provide round the clock water supply to the fire brigade in terms of fire exigencies.
When the fire broke out on Tuesday morning, neither the fire personnel nor the municipal market traders made any attempt to connect the hose to the fire hydrant. Reason: The fire hydrants have been lying defunct for lack of water pressure in the water pipeline over the years. In fact, every time the New Market is engulfed by fire, New Market traders as well as politicians of all hues emphasize on the need to revive the fire hydrants to cater to the fire-fighting requirements.
Leader of New Market Traders Association Vinod Shirodkar said the Market Association must have made demands for the revival of the fire hydrants over the years, but in vain. Why the Margao Municipality or the PWD have failed to revive the fire hydrants knowing well that the New Market is susceptible to fire incidents is mired in mystery.
No overhead water tank
The fate of the overhead water tank proposed at the Gandhi market for 24x7 water supply to meet fire emergencies over half-a-decade ago remains unknown till date. The overhead tank was proposed by the market traders and the Margao Municipality to provide round the clock water supply facility for the fire brigade since the fire hydrants in the market have been rendered defunct.
The water tank was initially proposed by the Margao Municipality at the old fish market area behind the Municipal building. The site, however, was later shelved after the civic body resolved to build a multi-level parking. The MMC had later shortlisted a site at the Municipal-owned Gandhi market.
The question, however, remains unanswered how come the civic body could not execute the overhead water tank project when the Gandhi market is owned by the Municipality.
Traffic and parking blues
A question is often asked in market circles whether a fire brigade can rush to the New Market area without obstructions in times of fire emergencies. Well, what was feared all along came true on Tuesday morning when the fire brigade was called to extinguish the raging fire in the New Market.
In fact, the fire tender had to literally struggle to make its way to the spot as the vehicle had to contend with vehicular parking along the roads and turns leading to the New Market. It was only after the market traders, members of the public and the firemen removed the two-wheelers parked along the turns and roadsides that the fire tender could finally reach the spot.
Electricity issues
When the fire fighting was underway to extinguish the fire in the building housing the garment shop and the pharmacy, members of the public could see with the naked eye a number of air conditioners installed above the mezzanine floor of the ill-fated building.
In fact, questions have been raised whether the load used by the establishments conformed to the actual load obtained from the Power Department. Further questions have been raised whether there was not enough provision for the heat generated by the ACs to escape out, more so when the hoardings erected by the business establishments had come as a barrier.
