Team Goemkarponn
VASCO: South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes has urged the Goa government to declare the devastating fire at Vasco’s Sunday Market a State Disaster and announce immediate compensation for traders who lost their shops and festive-season stock. He has also called for a thorough investigation into the cause of the blaze, stating that the possibility of a conspiracy cannot be ruled out.
Expressing concern over the destruction, Fernandes said the fire had wiped out the livelihoods of numerous traders and affected families who depend directly or indirectly on the market for their income. With Diwali approaching, many vendors had invested heavily in merchandise in the hope of making festive-season sales.
Fernandes appealed to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to grant the incident State Disaster status, provide immediate financial relief and ensure the market is rebuilt. He stressed that the impact extended beyond shop owners to include helpers, labourers and others whose earnings depend on the market.
Raising concerns about the circumstances surrounding the blaze, the MP said a comprehensive inquiry was necessary to establish how the fire started and whether any deliberate action was involved. Referring to incidents elsewhere where fires had allegedly been linked to plans for redevelopment, he said such a possibility could not be dismissed without investigation. He did not present evidence establishing that the Vasco fire was deliberate.
Fernandes also called for scrutiny of the market’s fire safety arrangements, including whether firefighting equipment had been properly maintained, whether fire extinguishers were charged and within their validity period, and whether scheduled servicing had been carried out.
Responding to questions about whether the fire could have been controlled earlier and concerns over the functioning of fire hydrants, Fernandes said the investigation should examine the adequacy of the safety systems and the emergency response.
While demanding accountability, he acknowledged the efforts of the police and fire personnel in evacuating people and preventing loss of life. He said keeping traders and others away from the burning premises was particularly important, as some vendors had attempted to enter the market to save their belongings.
