CM gives 15-day time to market shop owners to comply with fire norms

Banerjee also said the shop owners were mostly responsible for their safety. “You may carry on your business but it is your responsibility to take care of the safety features as well.”

Some market owners,however,said it would not be possible for them to get everything straightened within 15 days. “The fire department has sealed the market and the place is not even accessible. The department officials would meet us on Tuesday and only after that they might allow us to go in,” said Manoj Kumar Agarwal,a shopkeeper of Surya Sen Market.

Fire officials too shrugged off the responsibility.

“We will be their advisors and tell them what to do. Now it will be up to them to complete the work within time,” said a senior fire official.

Fire Minister Javed Khan,however,said there was a scope of extending the deadline. “We are conducting a survey of markets,guest houses and small nursing homes. There should be water pipelines on four sides,proper wiring,hydrants and a clear staircase. If they can’t do it in 15 days they might get an extension of another 15 days,” he added.

Interestingly,after the fire that razed over 200 shops of Hatibagan Market in north Kolkata on March 22 last year,shop owners are operating without a licence from the KMC. “We repaired the market,spending over Rs 3 crore,without any help from the owner of the market. He is not even ready to pay the service charge to the Fire department. So,technicaly,we are operating illegally here,” said Dheeraj Bera,working president,Hatibagan Bazar Babsayee Samity.

Now the service charge that is payable to the fire department is huge and should be borne by the owner. Even that he is not ready to bear. Thus we didn’t get nod from the fire department and without that the KMC is not ready to give us trade licences. Technically,we are running illegally,” said Dheeraj Bera,working president,Hatibagan Bazar Babsayee Samity.

Earlier in the day,the Town Hall apparently turned into a classroom with the Chief Minister doning the job of a teacher — pulling up her officials and ministers.

Addressing the Municipal Commissioner,Banerjee said: “Khalil. Why are you down there always? Come on the stage,” and to Fire Minister Javed Khan she said: “When will the meeting be?” and as Khan hurried up to the CM to give an explaination,she said: “Find a solution,” and “Get dedicated officers to look into the wires. I don’t want to listen to anything. Just do it.”

She also turned to Trinamool heavyweight Sudip Bandopadhyay and said: “Only staying in Delhi will not do. You will have to look into the issues here as well.”