Shoppers throng Margao’s New Market ahead of the New Year festivities.
MARGAO
Two days after the fire incident left behind a trail of destruction, the hustle and bustle has returned to the Margao Municipality-owned New Market, the hub of trade and commerce in the commercial capital.
The narrow passages in the congested market were choked with shoppers ahead of the New Year festivities. Fear and anxiety, however, seemed writ large on the faces of the market traders, as they all appeared a worried lot, fearing that the fire could return to haunt them any moment if fire safety measures and precautions were not put in place in the mega market on utmost priority.
Leaders of the New Market may differ on a host of issues but they seem unanimous on one aspect – that the authorities should put in place firefighting equipment on priority and act on suggestions like the revival of the fire hydrants, construction of a dedicated overhead water tank and orderly vehicular parking around the market premises.
Leader of the New Market Traders Association Vinod Shirodkar said the time has come for the authorities to seriously implement fire prevention measures in and around the market area.
“We are not blaming anyone for Tuesday’s fire incident, but we are only asking for the market safety. The incident is a wake-up call for the authorities, including the District Collector, Mamlatdar and the Chief Officer. They should visit the market and take stock of the situation,” Shirodkar said.
He added: “The fire hydrants installed decades ago should be revived immediately. An overhead tank for a dedicated supply of water should be constructed on a war footing. There is also a need to regulate vehicular parking around the market. It would go a long way in resolving the parking blues if the multi-level parking project mooted by the Margao Municipality at the old fish market is executed on priority.”
Another trader Rajendra Ajgaonkar, brother of ex-deputy chief minister Manohar Ajgaonkar echoed similar sentiments. He said the fire hydrants installed around the New Market should be put to use on a priority. “If the fire hydrants are not working for want of water supply pressure, an overhead tank should be built to supply water. The PWD should pay attention to the issue.”
Trader Devi Borkar pointed out a host of issues plaguing the New Market, including haphazard vehicular parking hampering the movement of fire tender to the market, the defunct fire hydrants and the electric fixture issues staring at the market.
He said the mega market would have been reduced to ashes had the fire incident taken place during the night. “The New Market plays host to around 450-500 shops and stalls. The authorities should take fire prevention measures in the interest of the shops and the customers visiting the market,” he added.
Leader of the New Market Traders Association Gopal Naik said the power department should check the electrical wirings in the market. “The market has become a time bomb for want of fire safety measures. It would have been a disaster had the fire taken place in the night,” he said.
Stressing the need to streamline parking around the market, Gopal said there should be one-side parking on the roads around the market. “Double parking has to stop immediately. The parking issue needs to be resolved immediately,” he added.
Two days after a massive fire engulfed the Margao Municipality-owned New Market, the District Disaster Management Authority has called a meeting of the stakeholders on January 2 to take stock of the fire deficiencies in the mega market and recommend fire safety measures.
Sources said that officials of the Margao Municipal Council, Fire Services, PWD, Electricity, etc, have been invited to the meeting by the District Collector, South Asvin Chandru, who also heads the South Goa District Disaster Management Authority as its Chairperson.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of the instructions issued by the Margao MLA Digambar Kamat to call for an urgent meeting of the concerned officials to take stock of the situation after the fire incident and suggest remedial measures.
