APMC yard declared unsafe in 2018 is apmc running illegally
The acting chief fire officer of NMC’s fire and emergency services department DP Chandankhede has also said that the APMC was declared unsafe by the department in January 2018.
Nagpur: Kalamna Agricultural Produce Market Corporation (APMC) yard, was declared unsafe due to the lack of a fire fighting system in the year 2018. Which used to stock agricultural produce not only from Nagpur district but also from neighboring districts and states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, etc., was operating absolutely illegally all these years.
The acting chief fire officer of NMC’s fire and emergency services department DP Chandankhede has also said that the APMC was declared unsafe by the department in January 2018. And under the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006, in April 2018, an order has also been issued to stop the supply of electricity and water.
Also as per the details received from the Fire and Emergency Services Department of NMC, the Agriculture Produce Market Corporation had been granted a Provisional No Objection Certificate dated 16th October 2003. Since then the department had suggested several measures to be taken by the APMC.
The officials of Kalamna Fire Station have also stated that on many occasions the department was also suggested to have fire fighting arrangement inside the APMC yard.
Government agencies including MSEDCL ignored the fire department’s
“On October 11, 2017, officials of Kalamna Fire Station inspected the yard and again ordered APMC to install fire fighting system,” officials said.
Fire officials have also said that apart from installing hydrants at various places in the yard, the fire department had also suggested the installation of sprinklers and smoke detectors to the Agriculture Produce Market Corporation. However, the APMC continues to ignore the measures already suggested.
Subsequently, on the date of January 23, 2018, the APMC yard was declared unsafe by the department, three months after the notice was given to install the fire fighting system. Nearly three months later, i.e. on April 17, 2018, the department directed MSEDCL and the water supply agency to disconnect the electricity and water supply to Kalamna Market Yard.
However, like in other cases, both the government agencies including MSEDCL ignored the fire department’s order and continued an uninterrupted supply of electricity and water.
However, APMC chairman Ahmad Sheikh has also claimed that pipelines have been laid in the entire area and walls have been erected at precise intervals. “Kalamna fire station is also located very close by, due to which the existing arrangement is sufficient,” Ahmad Sheikh claimed.
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