PANJIM: The Congress party has asked Goa government to withdraw the mandatory fire safety measures in all commercial establishments including temporary structures. Calling the latest notification on fire safety a ‘scam,’ the Opposition has questioned the wisdom of the government for implementing the scheme at the time when the traders are facing financial loss.
“There is a recession situation in the State and making it compulsory will impact at least 4-5 lakh small traders. The shopkeepers and other traders are already burdened with GST. We feel it is a scam in the name of fire safety measures,” party spokesperson Urfan Mulla said at a press conference on Sunday.
The government this month issued a notification making fire extinguishers mandatory in all shops and establishments, guest houses, temporary structures and beach shacks which are covering an area upto 100 square meters. These traders are asked to give a ‘self-declaration’ on Rs 100 value non-judicial stamp paper stating that his/her commercial establishment has installed portable fire extinguisher and they are also familiar with the safe use of extinguisher.
According to the notification that comes into effect from June 1, the traders who have business premises upto 50 square meters will have to compulsorily provide a portable fire extinguisher of 4 kg or 6kg capacity ABC powder type fire extinguisher or 4.5 kg capacity carbon-dioxide fire extinguisher. For commercial establishments having space between 50 and 100 square meters, two portable fire extinguisher of ABC dry powder of 4kg or 6kg capacity or two 4.5 kg capacity carbon-dioxide fire extinguisher is a must. The traders association has been protesting against the notification demanding withdrawal.
The party released a new list of spokespersons namely MLA Dayanand Sopte, MLA Tony Fernandes, Sankalp Amonkar and Dinesh Jalmo while the NSUI (students body of the Congress) has a new in charge namely Janardhan Bhandari and Youth Congress incharge is Daya Pagi.
