The defunct fire hydrants expose the callousness of the authorities in putting a fire fighting mechanism in place. Captured by : Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Post-fire incident, the PWD, Water Supply had mulled a dedicated network of water supply pipelines equipped with fire hydrants around the Margao Municipal Markets, the New Market and the Gandhi market.
Around 10 months and half down the line, the proposal is still confined to the papers. A visit to the New Market on Sunday revealed that the condition of the defunct fire hydrants has not changed for the better for want of adequate water pressure.
Interestingly, when The Goan called up a senior PWD, Water Supply official to shed light on the status of the water pipeline network around the two markets, he said the Margao division of the water supply had prepared the estimates of the project, pegged around Rs one crore, long ago. In fact, the official was candid in admitting that the proposal had gone to the government some months back for administrative approval and financial sanction before the work could be taken up in the market. “What we have proposed is a water pipeline network around the New Market and Gandhi market which would provide 24x7 water supply to the network to fight fire emergencies. The project will take off as and when the government accord the sanction”, the official said.
