Panaji (Goa): The North Goa Disaster Management Authority (DMA) has asked all commercial establishments and beach shacks to comply with Fire Safety norms by January 31. In a review meeting chaired by North Collector and Chairman of the DMA Nila Mohanan, industries handling hazardous material are issued separate directives to conduct drills with stakeholders within a month.
“The industries handling hazardous material in North District should immediately plan to conduct mock drills involving all the stakeholder departments and local community in a time frame within a month. The Tourism Department should ensure that all beach shacks including shacks and hut in private properties comply with the fire safety norms on or before January 31, 2018,” she said.
The meeting discussed the preparedness for disaster management in the case of industries handling hazardous substances and fire safety in various buildings, restaurants, discos, hotels, hospitals, etc.
Mohanan also directed local bodies to ensure compliance to fire safety norms by all the commercial establishments in the district before granting them permission to operate. As per the order the local bodies have also been asked not to renew trade licenses of the defaulting commercial establishments if they fail to comply with the safety norms on or before January 31, 2018.
A detailed review on fire safety of all important buildings and installations have been tasked to the Fire Department in the wake of information that many building have failed to comply with the norms. The audit reportedly will also check if the buildings and premises have emergency or fire exit.
The department has been making recommendations to defaulting premise owners to install fire safety measures, but it is not heeded to. As such the department had sought from the government penalising powers to take action against the violators.
The review meeting, which was attended by representatives from various departments incidentally comes after the major fire mishap at a restaurant-cum-pub in Mumbai killing 14 persons ahead of New Year. The commercial establishment is said to have flouted fire safety standards resulting in the major tragedy. The DMA is likely to hold another meeting to get updates about compliance of the order.
Team TNV
