File photo of the MMC New Market.
MARGAO
Director of Fire Services Nitin Raikar, who isinspecting markets across the state in the wake of the Vasco market fire, willhave his task cut out when he visits the Margao municipal markets.
While the authorities, including the PWD andthe Margao Municipal Council (MMC), have complied with the recommendation toinstall fire hydrants around the fire-prone markets, several other active andpassive fire safety measures recommended by the Fire Services remainunimplemented, nearly three years after the devastating fire that engulfed theNew Market on December 26, 2023.
Following the incident, Divisional FireOfficer Rajan Haldankar had forwarded a series of recommendations to the MMC,including the installation of fire hydrants around both the New Market andGandhi Market. Sources said Haldankar has reminded the MMC administration viaemail of the need to implement the recommendations in the markets.
Thanks to the intervention of PWD MinisterDigambar Kamat, both markets have now been equipped with a total of 15 firehydrants. However, sources said officials are still working out the technicalrequirements to ensure adequate water pressure at the hydrants, including thepossibility of installing booster pumps or providing dedicated overhead watertanks.
The crucial question, however, is whether the MMChas implemented the remaining recommendations made by the Fire Services.Director Raikar will have to ascertain from Municipal Chief Officer MadhuNarvekar and the civic body's engineers the extent of compliance with the firesafety recommendations.
Among the key recommendations made byDivisional Fire Officer Haldankar was the installation of directional exitsignage inside the markets and at all entry and exit gates. This signage wasintended to guide people towards safe exits and facilitate swift evacuation inthe event of a fire or other emergency.
The Fire Services had also specificallystressed that every exit, exit access and exit discharge must be continuouslykept free of obstructions to ensure unhindered movement during an emergency.This raises another important question: will the Director of Fire Servicesinspect the market premises to verify whether these evacuation routes areactually being kept free of encroachments and other obstructions?
Another significant recommendation was theformation of fire safety volunteer teams comprising shop owners. These teamswere expected to conduct surprise checks of electrical fittings and ensure thatfire extinguishers and other fire protection equipment remained operational andin working condition.
The Fire Services had also advised themunicipality to take the initiative to depute representatives of theShopkeepers' Association and municipal employees, with a minimum of 15 personsat a time, for training in basic fire safety awareness and the operation andhandling of first-aid fire extinguishers. Such training would help ensure thatpeople on the premises are equipped to respond promptly in the event of a fire.
Further, the MMC was asked to instruct allshop owners to paint the interiors of their establishments with fire-retardantpaint and install fire curtains offering a minimum of one-hour fire resistance.These measures were recommended to prevent or slow down the spread of fire fromone shop to another.
With the installation of fire hydrants nowaddressed, the upcoming inspection by the Director of Fire Services presents anopportunity to assess whether the other crucial recommendations have also movedbeyond official correspondence and been translated into concrete action on theground.
Council deploys 14 workers for fire safety training
MARGAO: More than a month after PWD Minister DigambarKamat witnessed a mock drill demonstrating the functioning of the fire hydrantsinstalled at the Margao Municipal New Market, the Margao Municipal Council hasfinally deputed its workers and security personnel for training in handling thefire hydrants.
Divisional Fire Officer Rajan Haldankar toldthe media that Fire Officer Gill D'Souza had imparted the training to the civicworkers and explained how to use the hydrants to extinguish a fire.
During the programme, Gill underscored theneed for MMC workers and security personnel manning the municipal markets tounderstand that they are the first responders if a fire breaks out in themarkets.
"The whole purpose of training theworkers is to ensure that they start firefighting operations before the arrivalof the fire tender and stop the fire from spreading to the market," Gillexplained to the workers.
