Bhubaneswar: Following the devastating fire at Unit-1 market that destroyed around 40 shops, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to introduce new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in the city’s haats to enhance safety and regulation.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, BMC Mayor Sulochana Das stated that the SOPs will be implemented across 20 major haats to ensure organised operations and prevent future incidents. “Currently, an agency has been assigned the task for enumeration of the 20 haats. Though it is expected to be completed in the next 15 days, we have kept a month’s gestation period. We have also held discussions with the market managing committees to ensure against mushrooming of shops in these haats,” she said.
Das further noted that BMC will now have a role in the market committees elections. “Elections to the market committees will be held between February and March under the BMC’s supervision. And those elected will be responsible for the haats. Additionally, a group insurance scheme will be introduced for shopkeepers to address such eventualities. The BMC is currently unable to pay any compensation for the loss incurred in fire mishaps,” she said.
She added the civic body will enforce stricter regulations, including a ban on polythene sheets.
At least 10 shops were gutted and 16 others affected after a massive fire broke out in the Unit-I vegetable market here at around 2 pm on Wednesday.
