Whenever an incident like the recent fire in a Goa nightclub that claimed 25 lives takes place, strict action is ordered against the owners, managers, etc. This should indeed be done, but it is a mistake to believe that this will help prevent future incidents. The reason is that those complicit in the negligence and whose task it was to regulate and prevent are not equally taken to task – the various government and municipal officials. The action should be just as severe if not more against this dereliction of duty.
In the Goa incident, for instance, it turns out it was not just the reckless use of electric firecrackers that caused the tragedy, every safety aspect was ignored. The building was a virtual fire-trap made as it was of flammable material, and did not have the necessary clearances which would require proper fire exits. It was basically being run in an entirely illegal fashion. How was that possible with so many rules in place and officials of various departments given the responsibility of enforcing them? Clearly there was rank negligence and dereliction of duty, or bribes taken to overlook the shortcomings. And this will happen again and again if severe punishment is not meted out in this regard.
Governments are quick to declare all kinds of remedial action after such incidents but very little ever gets done. This is because the regulators get away with their actions and there is a strong vested interest in continuation of the illegalities because of the bribes received. So, unless the Goa Government does not take action against the culpable officials, all its claims on improving the situation should be taken with a grain of salt. The families of those killed or injured in the fire should sue the Goa Government for the negligence that contributed to the tragedy.
Uttarakhand too is a major tourism destination and is replete with all kinds of cafes, resorts, hotels, etc., functioning precariously on the edge of the regulatory regime. The state government should undertake a strict review of such places on all the safety parameters to ensure the rules are in force. Wherever laxity is found, the first action should be taken against those responsible for enforcing them. Promoting tourism would be self-defeating if the proper safe conditions are not provided to visitors. Also, customers should get into the habit of enquiring about safety measures and fire exits before patronising an establishment.
