Kolkata: Mayor Firhad Hakim has requested state Fire minister Sujit Bose to complete the fire audit of the markets across the city soon to crack the whip on those market authorities who are not following the guidelines of the fire brigade.
On Sunday afternoon, Hakim visited the fire incident spot at Gariahat and stated that the Kolkata Municipal Corporation will come up with certain rules and regulations after discussing with the fire brigade. According to him, fire fighters faced problems while dousing the flames due to the hoardings and glow-signboards that were fixed on the building. The firefighters had to break the hoardings to spray water.
Hakim also stated that as the hawkers do not use trolley-based stalls, in case of emergency, they cannot be moved. He later informed that the KMC officials will interact with the hawkers' union to change to trolley-based stalls. Hakim also alleged that the hawkers use plastic which cannot be allowed anymore. "Several generators could be found inside the building. Also hoardings were put up as they wished to. This cannot be tolerated. We are going to sit with the Fire department and make a rule to prevent such acts. I have asked the state Fire minister to complete the audit of the markets in Kolkata by March 15 this year," said Hakim. Apart from Hakim, Bose also alleged that no one is concerned about the safety and security. Constructions have been made encroaching the footpaths. "Several banners and hoardings have been put illegally. The area has turned in to an inferno. The firefighters faced immense problems. They had to cut through the hoardings on the buildings. We will talk to the KMC regarding this. We are not obstructing anyone to flourish in their business but some rules must be followed," said Bose. Approximately four months ago after the Bagri Market fire incident, it was decided to make the fire audit mandatory for all markets in Kolkata. But before it could be completed, the garment shop in Gariahat caught fire.