The Times of India 28.02.2013
Ill-equipped civic markets are fire traps
MUMBAI: With municipal
markets not having basic fire safety equipment, they can be called
veritable fire traps. Several illegal extensions, cluttered entry and
exit routes add to the problem.
In the backdrop of the
inferno in a godown-cum-office complex in a Kolkata market on Wednesday
in which 18 people died, the fire safety of municipal markets should be
beefed up, say experts. The building, housing the market in Kolkata, was
unauthorized and had come up during the Left Front regime.
There are 103 municipal markets in Mumbai, most very old and
dilapidated. The markets are in prime spots and cater to many people.
“After the Crawford market fire that lasted for over eight hours, the
BMC had planned to survey all civic markets for fire safety, but nothing
has been done on that front,” said a fire brigade official.
Electric wirings and circuit cabins that have been eaten up by rodents are hanging precariously in these markets.
The official added that since these markets were very old, the BMC can
make provisions to have fire extinguishers, de-clutter the routes and
also inspect the markets for storage of inflammable and hazardous
chemicals.
“Several shops are making illegally extensions and
the exits are getting narrower. Wooden wares are stocked in the lobby.
If a fire erupts, it would be a nightmare for people trying to flee,”
said a shopkeeper at the Khar market.
He said several workers
from these shops sleep on the market premises at night and if fire
safety is ignored, it could lead to a disaster.
markets not having basic fire safety equipment, they can be called
veritable fire traps. Several illegal extensions, cluttered entry and
exit routes add to the problem.
In the backdrop of the
inferno in a godown-cum-office complex in a Kolkata market on Wednesday
in which 18 people died, the fire safety of municipal markets should be
beefed up, say experts. The building, housing the market in Kolkata, was
unauthorized and had come up during the Left Front regime.
There are 103 municipal markets in Mumbai, most very old and
dilapidated. The markets are in prime spots and cater to many people.
“After the Crawford market fire that lasted for over eight hours, the
BMC had planned to survey all civic markets for fire safety, but nothing
has been done on that front,” said a fire brigade official.
Electric wirings and circuit cabins that have been eaten up by rodents are hanging precariously in these markets.
The official added that since these markets were very old, the BMC can
make provisions to have fire extinguishers, de-clutter the routes and
also inspect the markets for storage of inflammable and hazardous
chemicals.
“Several shops are making illegally extensions and
the exits are getting narrower. Wooden wares are stocked in the lobby.
If a fire erupts, it would be a nightmare for people trying to flee,”
said a shopkeeper at the Khar market.
He said several workers
from these shops sleep on the market premises at night and if fire
safety is ignored, it could lead to a disaster.
