Team Herald
PANJIM: The District Administration of Goa has been flayed for having no evacuation and awareness drills or advisories issued as far as fire and emergency situations in the State are concerned.
The Deputy Collector of Tiswadi has been urged to hold joint meeting between agencies and authorities to chalk out a proper emergency management plan.
After submitting the memorandum to the Tiswadi Deputy Collector, Goa Civic and Consumer Action Network (GOACAN) coordinator Roland Martins has informed that the problem of lack of awareness, evacuation drills and also missing advisories exists across Goa.
“We submitted memorandums and representations regarding many issues in Panjim regarding fire safety. The issues have not been dealt with after repeated information,” said Martins.
“Nowhere in Panjim there is a fire safety plan displayed outside any major premises. No information and evacuation drills have been held in critical areas like cruise boats, ferry boats and casinos. Because Panjim city is a corporation, we feel that other towns will follow if Panjim sets a benchmark of fire and emergency planning,” Martins added.
“We are being touted as India’s number one tourism destination and Panjim is in the spotlight. Awareness programmes in each ward of the city need to be held. But we are acting after the disaster happens. That is the reason we have asked for a joint meeting of all agencies concerned,” Martins said.
“MLAs of Goa need to take appropriate steps to legislate and take necessary steps to make amendments to the prevailing laws to ensure the safety of the public,” he added.
