MARGAO
Is the over-century-old Margao Municipal building fireproof? This question had come to the fore on March 1, 2023, when a minor fire in the Municipal councillor’s room triggered panic and a host of questions in the corridors of the civic body.
A little over a year now, the same question is doing the rounds in the corridors of the Margao Municipal building and outside. For, neither a fire audit of the building has been conducted to date nor have basic fire preventive measures put in place in the 118-year-old heritage building.
Senior fire officials had warned on March 1, 2023, that the MMC heritage building should be immediately equipped with basic fire safety and preventive measures, especially the provision for fire and smoke detectors.
In fact, a fire officer had warned last year that as wood is the major component of the heritage building, the structure ought to be painted with fire retardant paint as a matter of abundant caution.
“The MMC heritage building would be reduced to ashes if by accident the structure is engulfed by fire during night time. For, wood is extensively used in its construction. That’s the reason why it is important to install fire and smoke detectors,” the officer added.
