VIBHA VERMA
PANAJI
A large number of establishments at Vasco’s Sunday Modern Market Complex allegedly lacked basic firefighting equipment, with questions raised about whether the municipality verified mandatory fire-safety compliance before issuing or renewing trade licences.
The devastating fire that gutted the market on Wednesday night has brought the licensing process under the spotlight, particularly the municipality’s responsibility to ensure that traders meet prescribed fire-safety requirements.
The scale of the market posed a major challenge for fire personnel battling the blaze for over four hours. The complex purportedly has two entry and exit points, with around 15-20 shops on the left side and more than 800 establishments on the right. Government sources confirmed to The Goan that narrow internal lanes hampered the movement of fire personnel and equipment, while fire officials also reported obstruction by some locals.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant ordered an inquiry into the blaze as well as the fire rescue operations.
Official sources in the Home Department revealed that many vendors had allegedly failed to install even the basic firefighting equipment prescribed under the law. Five fire hydrants within the market were also reportedly non-functional.
A 2018 amendment to a notification under the Goa Fire Force Act prescribes minimum firefighting equipment for smaller establishments. Shops measuring up to 50 sq mts must install at least one 4 kg or 6 kg portable ABC dry powder extinguisher, or a 4.5 kg carbon dioxide extinguisher conforming to BIS 2190 standards. Establishments measuring above 50 sq mts and up to 100 sq mts must install two such extinguishers.
The notification, applicable till date, allows establishments in these categories to comply through self-declaration. “Owners or occupants must submit a declaration on Rs 100 non-judicial stamp paper to the respective licensing authority, confirming that they have installed the prescribed extinguishers and know how to operate them safely,” the source added.
This arrangement thus placed the responsibility for receiving the declarations and ensuring compliance on the licensing authority. In Vasco, the municipality issues the trade licences.
"Since the market comes under the municipality, it is this licensing authority's responsibility to ensure that the prescribed fire-safety requirements are met. Under the self-declaration system, the authority must verify compliance rather than assume that the submission of a declaration alone is sufficient," the official said, adding, “Several traders did not even have the fire extinguishers. They had stacked loads of materials, including additional stock for the upcoming Diwali, but no safety measures in place.”
Sources also said the current arrangement of self-declaration to the civic body followed an earlier directive issued during the tenure of then Collector Nila Mohanan, which required traders to obtain fire no-objection certificates (NOCs) while applying for or renewing trade licences. The directive was subsequently revoked after several traders raised objections.
Fire & Emergency Services Director Nitin Raikar remained unavailable for comment.
