In a decisive move to safeguard citizens during the upcoming festivities, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and the fire brigade department have announced rigorous joint surveillance drives across the city's hospitality and entertainment venues. The initiative, aimed at ensuring strict adherence to fire safety norms, will target hotels, bars, nightclubs, and restaurants throughout the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Mayor's Directive for a Safe Celebration
Mayor Firhad Hakim, addressing the matter on Monday, emphasized the critical need for robust preventive measures. With thousands of revelers expected to participate in the year-end festivities, the administration is leaving no stone unturned to avert any untoward incidents that could mar the celebratory spirit. "If the joint team inspecting nightclubs and restaurants find the fire safety arrangements are not adequate, strict action will be taken," Hakim stated unequivocally. The special surveillance operations are scheduled to commence this week and will continue until the first week of January next year.
Heightened Vigilance Post-Goa Tragedy
This year's drive assumes greater significance in the wake of a tragic fire at a nightclub in Goa, which claimed several lives. While the KMC conducts a similar joint exercise annually in December, the scale and scrutiny are being intensified this festive season. A KMC official revealed that the civic body's amusement tax department holds a powerful deterrent: it can cancel permissions granted for various cultural functions, concerts, and soirees planned for the year-end if fire safety arrangements are found lacking. Organizers of any entertainment show or event during this period must secure mandatory permission from the civic body and pay a specific entertainment tax.
Proactive Preparations and Enforcement
As the winter festive season approaches, venues across Kolkata are already gearing up for a host of concerts, cultural programs, and parties. The pre-emptive inspections by the civic authorities and fire services department are designed to ensure these preparations include comprehensive fire safety protocols. The administration's clear message is that the joy of celebration must not come at the cost of public safety. The planned drives underscore a proactive approach to governance, aiming to create a secure environment for all residents and visitors during the most vibrant time of the year in the City of Joy.
