The Green Goa Foundation (GGF), a prominent non-governmental organization, has issued a stark warning to the state government, demanding urgent action against illegal constructions and unsafe living quarters for workers within the Cuncolim industrial estate. The NGO has drawn a direct parallel to the devastating Arpora night club fire, which resulted in the loss of 25 lives, cautioning that continued inaction could lead to similar tragedies.
Unsafe Conditions and Violations Exposed
In a strongly-worded press note, the foundation highlighted a critical safety crisis. It alleged that numerous workers are being housed in cramped and illegal accommodations right inside factory premises. These living quarters blatantly violate established safety norms, creating a tinderbox of risk. The NGO expressed frustration that government officers typically spring into action only after a major mishap causes death and destruction, a pattern witnessed in the aftermath of the Arpora fire.
Raison Almeida, the chairman of GGF, stated that the inspection drives currently being conducted by authorities should have been part of a routine, proactive safety protocol. He criticized the present approach as being merely reactive. To underscore the persistent danger, the foundation pointed to several fire incidents that have already occurred within the industrial estate in recent years.
Allegations of Extortion Amidst Inspections
Almeida leveled a serious accusation against some officials, claiming they are exploiting the post-Arpora inspection environment for personal gain. He alleged that instead of genuinely working to rectify the glaring irregularities, certain officers are using the tragic fire as an opportunity to extort money from businesses that are found to be in violation of rules. "Officers are taking this fire as an opportunity to extort from defaulting businesses," Almeida claimed in the press statement.
A Call for Proactive Governance
The core demand from the Green Goa Foundation is a shift from a crisis-response model to one of consistent enforcement and prevention. The organization is urging the government to immediately identify and demolish all illegal constructions within the Cuncolim industrial estate. Furthermore, it insists on the strict enforcement of worker housing safety regulations to prevent any loss of life.
The NGO's warning serves as a grim reminder that the lessons from the Arpora fire, which claimed 25 lives, must translate into concrete, systemic action. The focus, they argue, must remain on preventing the next disaster rather than managing its aftermath.
