No fire extinguishers or functional water supply, dry paddy crop, residential occupation and failure to rectify deficiencies raise safety concerns
Kapurthala, October 29: SDM Maj. Dr Irwin Kaur on Thursday has recommended an immediate review of the licence and appropriate action by the competent authority after an inspection of the fireworks godown operated by M/s Roshan Lal, Hari Chand, in Kapurthala revealed several serious safety deficiencies.
The inspection was conducted by SDM Maj. Dr Irwin Kaur along with DSP Maj. Dr Sheetal Singh to assess compliance with safety norms and licence conditions.
According to the inspection report,she mentioned that no fire extinguishers were found at the premises of the godown. Although a wall-mounted fire hose reel and fire buckets were present, the absence of extinguishers and a functional water supply raised serious concerns about the adequacy of firefighting arrangements in the event of an emergency.
The inspection team also found three water tanks at the site, none of which contained water. Two tanks were cracked, while the third, located on the rooftop, was also damaged. The tank behind the godown was surrounded by overgrown trees, shrubs and bushes and was completely dry, leaving no functional water source available for firefighting at the time of inspection.
She also highlighted the cultivation of paddy in the open area adjoining the godown. The crop was dry and nearing harvest, posing an additional fire hazard near premises used for storing fireworks. The SDM recommended examining the matter under the applicable provisions of the Explosives Act, 1884, the Explosives Rules, 2008, and the specific conditions of the licence, particularly those relating to safety clearances and the removal of dry vegetation and combustible material.
The inspection team further observed that a family was residing within the premises, raising concerns about the safety of the occupants in the event of an accidental fire or explosion, particularly in view of the inadequate firefighting arrangements.
Licensee fails to rectify deficiencies within the stipulated period
The report stated that the licensee had been directed during the inspection to rectify the identified deficiencies and ensure compliance with prescribed safety requirements within one week. However, even after the stipulated period expired, no effective corrective measures had been undertaken. The licensee continued to use the premises for storing fireworks and for their onward dispatch and distribution despite the deficiencies pointed out during the inspection.
The SDM noted in the report that the continued operation of the godown under these circumstances raised serious concerns regarding compliance with licence conditions and statutory safeguards intended to protect human life and property. The absence of fire extinguishers, non-functional water storage facilities, damaged tanks, vegetation in the adjoining area and residential occupation collectively created a potentially hazardous situation requiring urgent intervention.
In view of the findings, the SDM recommended referring the matter to the competent licensing authority for an immediate review of the licence, authorised storage capacity and compliance with all applicable statutory and safety conditions. She also recommended an urgent inspection by the competent explosives licensing authority and the Fire Services Department to assess the condition of the godown, the adequacy of firefighting arrangements, prescribed safety distances and overall compliance with safety requirements.
Given the failure to rectify the deficiencies within the stipulated period, the report recommended that the competent authority may consider suspension, revocation or other appropriate action in accordance with applicable law and prescribed procedures. It also suggested examining the need for interim restrictions on the storage and dispatch of fireworks from the premises, pending verification and corrective action, to prevent any untoward incident.
In the report, she further recommended that the licensee be directed to remove the identified hazards, restore the prescribed safety arrangements and demonstrate compliance before any decision on the continued operation of the godown is taken.
The recommendations have been submitted for priority consideration and necessary action in the larger public interest, with the objective of safeguarding human life and property and ensuring strict compliance with safety requirements at fireworks storage facilities.
