Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has assured financial compensation for shop owners affected by the fire at the Vasco market area, while government departments carry out a comprehensive assessment of the damage and officials plan further safety measures.
Sawant visited the affected site early Thursday morning and said the assistance would be determined after the assessment was completed. The chief minister said the government had directed the departments concerned to examine the damage and prepare the modalities for providing compensation to those affected.
The Chief Secretary and senior administrative officials were also visiting the area to assess the situation and work out the relief arrangements, according to the report. The administration has not yet announced the total number of affected shops, the estimated value of losses or the amount and timeline of the proposed compensation.
“Government stands firmly with all those affected by this unfortunate incident and will extend necessary assistance, including financial compensation to the affected persons,” Sawant said.
The fire has brought the operational and safety conditions at the market area under immediate administrative review. The government said precautionary measures had been put in place following the incident to protect traders and residents in the affected area. The specific nature, duration and enforcement arrangements for these measures were not detailed in the report.
Sawant appealed to people to cooperate with the authorities and follow safety instructions issued in the aftermath of the fire. He said the measures were precautionary and had been taken in the interest of public safety, adding that the government was closely monitoring the situation.
For traders, the next stage will depend on the damage assessment and the administration’s decision on eligibility, documentation and disbursement of relief. Those details are yet to be announced. The assessment is also expected to establish the extent of damage to the market premises and the immediate requirements of people operating or living in the affected area.
The response places the state government, its departments and district-level officials at the centre of the relief process. Until the assessment is completed, the scale of the financial support and the steps required before payments can be released remain unclear.
The government’s immediate stated priorities are to complete the damage assessment, determine the compensation modalities and maintain precautionary safety measures around the affected market. Officials are continuing their visit to the area as these arrangements are worked out.
