MARGAO
When the Sonsodo waste management shed was engulfed by fire on Monday, the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) ought to have been engaged in the firefighting operations before calling the fire brigade.
Reason? The MMC had given an undertaking in the High Court on April 12 that it would put in place the firefighting mechanism at Sonsodo within one month.
The undertaking was submitted on April 12, but the firefighting mechanism was not in place even on May 15 when a fire broke out inside the waste shed, indicating the civic body has defaulted in complying with the High Court's directions.
It’s now a little over a month since the MMC submitted to the court that four fire extinguishers will be installed at various locations at Sonsodo. Sadly, when the Sonsodo waste was engulfed by fire on May 15, there were no fire extinguishers around.
The civic body had further undertaken to the High Court that six fire hydrants will be provided at various locations around the existing MSW shed.
The action plan proposed installing an MS water pipeline around the waste management shed with a suitable size to supply water to the fire hydrants.
Fortunately, the Margao fire brigade extinguished the blaze with a lone fire tender at the initial stage before it could spread to the entire dump inside the shed. Otherwise, the fire brigade would have been left with no option but to rush back to the station to refill the tender since the proposed fire hydrants and the water pipeline are yet to fall in place.
Incidentally, the civic body had given an undertaking to the High Court to deploy security guards at Sonsodo around the clock. The training was proposed to be imparted to the security guards in firefighting so that they can start the operation before the arrival of the fire brigade. While a couple of security guards have been found manning the entrance gate, questions are being raised about whether they have been imparted any training and by which agency.
When The Goan tried to inquire about the status of the firefighting mechanism proposed at Sonsodo as per the undertaking given in the High Court, officials pointed out that the civic body has placed orders for the purchase of the fire extinguishers.
However, the MMC has not yet tendered the work to rope in a private agency to install the firefighting mechanism as per the action plan submitted to the court.
A senior official said the file pertaining to the implementation of the action plan has been moving in the MMC at a snail’s pace. The official admitted that the firefighting action plan ought to have been in place by May 12 if one goes by the court order.
“We are today on May 15 and neither the fire extinguishers have been procured by the civic body nor the tender floated to rope in the agency to put the mechanism in place,” the official added.
Concerns raised over several fire incidents
MARGAO: The action plan submitted by the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) had found favour with the High Court, but not before the court expressing concern over the several fire incidents at Sonsodo.
While accepting the action plan, the High Court bench comprising Justice M S Sonak and Justice Valmiki Menezes, however, observed that the MMC will have to take immediate measures because, in the past, there have been several raging fires.
“Such fires, are extremely dangerous, and the people from this region have suffered enough. The raging fires are a serious health hazard and therefore, the MMC should ensure that fire management arrangements are in place within one month as undertaken by them,” the court observed while sounding a note of caution that the Assistant Engineer of MMC shall be responsible for ensuring that the fire arrangements are in place within a month.
