VASCO, JAN 5
Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chief Officer Gopal Parsekar on Wednesday assured to rectify the dilapidated fire hydrant system in municipal market in Vasco.
The chief officer has also assured to take remedial measures to avoid the risk of fire incidents in the municipal market as per the suggestion of Vasco fire brigade.
Parsekar had called a joint meeting of Vasco Fire Brigade, electricity department and PWD in his chamber on Wednesday to brief about the present status of Vasco market.
Nearly 212-odd small shops and establishments located in about 5,000 sq meters area of municipal market, which is one of the congested shopping place in Vasco.
Recently, Mormugao Deputy Collector Levinson Martins, who also heads the disaster management of town, had complained to MMC and Vasco fire brigade to conduct joint inception of the dilapidated fire hydrant system.
The fire department in its report had stated that all six pillar post hydrant installed in the market area are in a dilapidated condition, as most of the hydrant pits are covered with concrete slabs and mud.
Since most of the shops occupied by the vendors are mostly covered with tarpaulins sheets and other plastics combustible materials, it is exposed to fire.
To make the scenario worst, electricity wire is passing through the plastic material and haphazardly connected to the shops. Some shops are storing kerosene and explosive without adequate fire protection measures.
If any eventuality occurs, there is no adequate is maintained for the fire fighting appliances to enter the market area.
Divisional Officer Rajendra Haldankar, who was present in the meeting, said they have suggested some corrective measures to the council.
“Now, the council has to ensure that most of the shops procure fire-fighting extinguishers, which are mandatory as per the Goa State Fire Force Act 1986,” he said.
PWD Assistant Engineer M A Kunju and electricity department assistant engineer G Pillai also gave suggestions to improve the fire safety scenario in municipal market after the inspection.
