The devastating fire at the Verna Industrial Estate, which gutted 33 vehicles, serves as a grim reminder of Goa's persistent issues with industrial safety and disaster management. This incident not only raises questions about the immediate response and the adequacy of available resources but also highlights a failure pattern in the state’s handling of industrial emergencies.
It is reported that the fire originated from dry grass before rapidly spreading to vehicles parked at a servicing unit for Skoda and Renault. Despite the first sighting of the fire occurring shortly after 2:30 pm, the Verna Fire Brigade did not receive a call until approximately 3:16 pm, illustrating a critical delay in emergency response. While local workers attempted to manage the flames using available firefighting equipment, it took hours for the fire services to bring the situation under control. Such sluggish responses are particularly alarming given that the Verna Industrial Estate is home to numerous manufacturing units.
This brings us to a very critical question: have authorities truly learned from past calamities, such as the catastrophic fire at Berger Becker Coatings Pvt. Ltd. in Pilerne two years ago? The apparent lack of proactive measures since that incident suggests a concerning regression in our disaster preparedness. Fire and Emergency Services officials themselves have acknowledged the need for a specialized response strategy for industrial estates, yet little has been done to implement such measures. The Pilerne incident illustrated the critical deficiencies in our infrastructure and response protocol, where firefighting units had to be summoned from various parts of the state, a scenario that was repeated at Verna on Tuesday. The absence of in-house response teams equipped to handle industrial disasters signals a fundamental gap in industrial safety management that the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) has failed to address.
Despite the establishment of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), which is tasked with enhancing safety protocols, the Verna fire raises serious doubts about its efficacy. With the chief minister overseeing the authority, one would expect a more streamlined and comprehensive approach to disaster preparedness. Instead, the response indicates that invaluable lessons have either been overlooked or forgotten, diminishing the efforts of our dedicated firefighters who bravely tackle emerging threats.
In the aftermath of the fire, the GIDC moved swiftly, instructing the Verna car service centre to cease operations and revoke their occupancy certificate due to violations that may have contributed to the disaster. This reactionary stance underscores a persistent issue: the need for regular monitoring and enforcement of safety regulations in industrial estates. Waiting for a disaster to prompt action is an inadequate defence against the risks faced by workers and property in these industrial zones.
It is time for the state government to act decisively and comprehensively by reinforcing emergency protocols and adding layers of safety measures tailored to the unique environments of our industrial estates. To prevent future incidents, it is critical that we prioritize safety training, enhance fire response capabilities, and enforce adherence to established regulations proactively. The fire at Verna Industrial Estate should serve as both a wake-up call and a call to action. It is imperative that Goa steps up its commitment to industrial safety, ensuring that the errors of the past are not repeated in what appears to be a cycle of negligence.
