Team Goemkarponn
MARGAO: Madganvcho Awaaz youth leader Prabhav Naik on Monday alleged that the fire incident in Margao exposed the failure of Margao MLA and PWD Minister Digambar Kamat to fulfil repeated promises of improving fire safety infrastructure in the town.
Naik said the organisation had consistently highlighted concerns over the lack of functional fire hydrants and delays in completing the promised fire safety measures. He claimed that the latest incident vindicated issues raised by Madganvcho Awaaz on April 20, 2025, and again on April 4, 2026.
Referring to a fire at Prime New Market on December 26, 2023, Naik said Kamat had then announced the construction of a dedicated water tank and installation of fire hydrants to improve emergency preparedness. He added that similar assurances were made after the Gandhi Market fire on April 19, 2025.
According to Naik, more than two years have passed since the initial announcement, but the promised water tank and fully functional fire hydrant network have not been completed. He alleged that the absence of these facilities affected the response during the latest fire.
Naik further said Madganvcho Awaaz had, after another fire at the New Market on April 4, 2026, questioned the manner in which fire hydrant pipelines were being laid and warned that delays in completing the project could have serious consequences during emergencies.
Demanding accountability, Naik called on the authorities to explain why the fire hydrants were non-functional during the incident and identify those responsible for the delay in commissioning the fire hydrant network. He also urged the government to complete the dedicated water tank and fire safety infrastructure without any further delay.
