SPOTLIGHT | Fire prevention without powers: A systemic flaw

PANAJI
Firefighters and police spring into action when disaster strikes, but their role in preventing such tragedies is limited, exposing a serious regulatory gap in the commercial safety regime.
The issue has resurfaced sharply after the deadly fire at Birch by Romeo Lane that killed 25 people, followed by a blaze at Kala Academy on consecutive days.
Despite being the nodal agency for fire prevention, the Directorate of Fire & Emergency Services (DFES) has no statutory powers to seal unsafe premises or penalise owners who flout mandatory fire safety norms. Its role is largely confined to post-incident response.
Senior officials, speaking to The Goan on condition of anonymity, said that while notices are routinely issued to errant establishments, enforcement rarely follows. “We can declare a structure unsafe and issue notices, but we have no power to act against negligence. Compliance is often only partial,” a senior fire officer said.
Sources said this regulatory vacuum has been known for years. The structure owners usually comply with fire safety requirements only during construction to obtain a temporary fire NOC, a prerequisite for an occupancy certificate. Once obtained, oversight virtually collapses.
Although fire safety clearances are mandated to be renewed annually, officials admit this is seldom done. As a result, many commercial establishments continue operating with expired or no clearances, even as fire risks increase due to interior alterations, decorative materials and electrical modifications.
Police, meanwhile, are involved mainly for law and order or preventive action. Sources said licence inspections are conducted by squads led by the administration, with police playing only a supporting role. The government has been on record saying now these two State agencies will have to be mandatorily informed about licences for each premises.