The government has made it mandatory for all commercial and government buildings to be equipped with fire safety equipment. That apart, the buildings should have free access for the fire brigade vehicle in times of emergency when a fire breaks out or for other accidents.
It is mandatory for commercial traders to take permission from the fire brigade services but in Canacona taluka, according to sources in the Fire Station very few have complied with the laws and cited an incident of Ruby Building that collapsed two years ago and how they had to struggle to retrieve people – dead and living.
Fire extinguishers are not installed at many of the commercial establishments and when inspected, hoteliers and shack owners said that they had installed the fire safety gadgets but the personnel from the Canacona fire brigade are harassing them to purchase the refill from an agency in Vasco.
Present councilor and ex-Chaiperson of Canacona Municipal Council Shyam Sunder said that he has heard from some aggrieved persons that the concerned officer is harassing traders while issuing an NOC if fire extinguishers are not purchased from certain dealers.
Sitting councilor of Palolem ward, Dayanand Pagui also said that he is not happy over the functioning of the present fire officer who is harassing people.
When contacted, the fire station officer of Canacona, Francisco Mendes said that he visits all the places that are prone to man-made calamities and the hand of god and has pleaded with the concerned people to take precautionary measures.
He further stated that at most of the commercial establishments he visited, there was fire extinguishing equipment that wasn’t functioning and that there were no trained personnel to operate the equipment.
When contacted, Sub divisional magistrate of Canacona Taluka, Chandrakant Shetkar who is also the National Disaster Management in-charge said that he will take action if somebody lodges a complaint at his office in writing.
When contacted, Director of Fire and Emergency Services, Ashok Menon said that he is on the way and asked to contact the Divisional Officer at Margao, Rajendra Haldankar.
When contacted, Haldankar said that one cannot force someone to buy a fire extinguisher from a certain dealer but he can recommend the names of authorized dealers and those who are approved by the Director of Fire and Emergency Services.
He further stated that if somebody is forcing anyone to buy equipment from certain dealers and complaints are received in this connection, he will take action as per the law.
In this connection, the councilor of Pansulem, Shyam Sunder and ex-Chairperson of CMC, Santosh Gaonkar have demanded with concerned authorities to take stringent action against the law breakers in order to save the lives of the people.
