PANAJI
The magisterial inquiry into the Birch by Romeo Lane fire, which exposed sweeping failures by the Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) and contradictions in its inspection report for Maizons Lake View Resort, has now revealed an even more startling lapse: approvals were issued despite no application being filed.
The department, during the inquiry, had submitted to the committee that Birch or any other establishment operating from Survey No. 159/0 in Arpora had never applied for a fire NOC.
“No application for Fire NOC or any fire-related permission was received from Birch by Romeo Lane, situated at Sy. No. 159/0 of Arpora village or M/s Being GS Hospitality or M/s Maizons Lake View Resort, or any other entity located at survey number 159/0. No fire NOC or provisional NOC or renewal was granted by the department to any establishment/ club located in survey number 159/0 at any point of time,” the report mentioned while examining the records submitted by DFES.
The committee further observed that, despite this, a fire NOC was granted to M/s Maizons in respect of the hotel and boarding house located in survey number 158/1 of Arpora village in the year 2004. “The NOC has been granted to M/s Maizons Lake View Resort, 502/1, Sankhwadi, Arpora, and the same has been renewed till date” it added.
The inquiry also criticized the casual and improper inspection process, stating that for a property on Sy No. 158/0, the fire inspection was conducted by Shailesh Gaude, Station Fire Officer at the Fire Prevention Cell, Panaji, without informing the local field officer in Mapusa. “A copy of the NOC was not even endorsed to the station fire officer, Mapusa,” the committee observed.
The committee has now recommended mandatory sharing of trade licences with the Fire Department to ensure timely inspections. “Enforcement and preventive powers given to the fire department to enforce compliance of such entities to the National Building Code of India Fire standards should be exercised,” it said.
The committee further directed that all fire stations maintain lists of premises operating with and without NOCs.
“All the station fire officers must maintain a list of premises operating with and without fire NOCs. Necessary action in line with section 13(2) Goa State Fire Force Act 1986 should be taken on all premises operating without the fire NOCs and notices should be given for closure of such premises to the concerned local bodies,” it recommended.
