98% Salcete schools lack fire NOC

Margao: An estimated 98% of the schools across Salcete taluka are operating without a valid fire no-objection certificate (NOC), according to the latest records of the fire department.

Of the many educational institutions in the region, only a few including Presentation Convent, The King’s School and Vidya Vikas are reported to have active fire NOCs. In most other schools, safety arrangements remain limited.

“A majority of the schools do not possess any fire NOC and are relying on portable fire extinguishers as their primary means to tackle a blaze. While these are useful for small, localised fires, such measures are inadequate for larger emergencies, particularly in crowded school campuses,” said officials of the fire and emergency services.

The department also pointed to structural constraints in several schools. Many institutions, officials said, function from older buildings constructed before current safety norms were introduced. “These structures lack properly planned fire exits, increasing the risk to life. In the event of a fire, the absence of dedicated escape routes could lead to congestion during evacuation,” said officials.

The Romeo Lane fire has brought attention to safety compliance, with concerns being raised over the impact of lapses in fire safety measures. Parents and educators have made calls to school managements and the state administration to address compliance gaps.

A parent from a leading school in Margao said, “After the Birch fire tragedy, we parents are concerned about the safety of our children once they are in school. While so far there has been no major accident, all it will take is one tragedy to take the lives of innocent children.”

She said that most of the educational institutions are situated on busy roads, making it difficult for fire and emergency services to respond quickly. “In the absence of a fire hydrant system, a major fire could turn catastrophic. The education department should review fire safety in educational institutions,” the parent said.

Convenor of GOACAN Roland Martins said this is a case of system failure and there can be no compromise with compliance to the rules. He said that the fire department should take up the matter with the education department, which, in turn, should issue circulars to schools to report compliance.

A member of the parent-teachers association of a leading school in Margao said that there should be no compromise on children’s safety and that they should not become victims of misadministration.