ABDUL WAHAB KHAN |NT
PANAJI
Prodded by a series of news reports published in ‘The Navhind Times’, the PWD has now decided to find out which wing of the department is responsible for maintaining the firefighting equipment at major government buildings.
The PWD has grossly neglected the Shram Shakti Bhavan at Patto and no maintenance work on firefighting equipment has been taken up for the past 15 years because it has been unaware of as to which work division has to conduct a fire safety audit of the buildings.
The government-run Shrama Shakti Bhavan has been sitting on a tinderbox as the PWD has failed to inspect and maintain firefighting equipment. Interestingly some of the equipment have been stolen.
The fire department in its inspection report has recommended immediate maintenance of all the ill-maintained equipment at the bhavan. It has made a mention about the stolen 96 smoke detectors and 136 fire alarm system.
However, no police complaint was filed.
The work division-I (building) of the PWD, which looks after the civil work of the government buildings, has convened a joint meeting with work division- IV (mechanical and electrical) wing to deliberate and decide on their role in ensuring continuous maintenance and services of fire equipment.
Taking cognizance of the NT news reports, senior engineer of PWD (WD-I) said, “We have convened a joint meeting with the civil and electrical wing to take up necessary work. We are waiting for direction from the GAD (general administration department), which allotted the offices to various government departments…”
When asked as to why maintenance work has not been taken up for ensuring fire safety, he said, “We are unsure as to which wing is responsible – whether civil or electrical – to periodically check and repair the equipment.”
He maintained that they have not received any recommendations from the fire department about shortcomings visi-a-vis fire safety norms at Shram Shakti Bhavan.
PWD sources said that the meeting has been convened after being prodded by the chief engineer to properly maintain fire equipment at all government buildings in the city and across the state.
An official in the work division- IV (mechanical and electrical) of the PWD said that they are responsible to repair and renovate only fixtures.
He said that with regards to firefighting equipment, they can repair and maintain smoke detectors and fire alarm system, and in other systems like fire hydrants and hose reel there is nothing electrical.