Will Kollam tragedy teach a lesson?

It is alarming to note that there is no regulation of sale and storage of crackers even in Telangana.

General directions on need for sufficient space between two shops, sand material and fire extinguishers are given to the makeshift shops.–File Photo

The death toll rises and the arrests are made. But the blame game continues in the Kollam temple fireworks tragedy.

And it is alarming to note that there is no regulation of sale and storage of crackers even in Telangana.

The Kollam district Collector and Superintendent of Police trading charges is perhaps symptomatic of how fire safety and regulation of firecracker manufacture, storage and sale is riddled with yawning gaps in the job charts of various law enforcement agencies.

Anyone would expect the TS Disaster Response and Fire Services Department (TDDRFS) to be the nodal agency to look into these aspects since they issue the No Objection Certificates (NOCs) in association with the local police (that gives temporary permissions) for setting up makeshift firecracker shops during Diwali.

However, it has now come to light that the Fire Services has no such authority to issue NOCs temporarily and does not have the power to take action in case of lacunae or sans inspection.

Same is the case with the Collector and District Magistrates issuing licences for shops and asking fire authorities to issue temporary NOCs, affirm senior officials, seeking anonymity.

“We are issuing NOCs on request by the police in the city and the district Collectorates for a registration fee of Rs. 500.

We were giving general directions on having sufficient space between two shops, sand material and fire extinguishers,” explain senior fire officials.

No legal cover

As it has no legal cover, Director General of TSDRFS Rajiv Ratan has requested the Government to make it mandatory to obtain a licence from the department to establish temporary/permanent structures for sale/storage of firecrackers, considering the high risk factor. Currently, the Fire Act does not cover firecracker shops and such legal standing will help the department to inspect and evaluate safety measures for shops and storage units too, said the DG in an official communiqué recently.

Incidentally, the Controller of Explosives under the Centre’s Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) supposed to control these activities comes into the picture only when the stockpile is 100 kilos or more, leaving anything else less, to the City Police Commissioner and/or District Collector.

And, they are in no way concerned about fire safety issues, it is pointed out.

Hazy regulations

With regulations hazy, the retail trade was being conducted by just taking a trade licence from the civic body. “Everyone wakes up to fire safety only after a major tragedy. It has never been a priority and we are plain lucky not to have had such an incident,” aver senior officials.