Safety & Security Check carried out by FSAI, Mumbai Chapter creating Fire Safety & Security awareness among Mumbai Ganesh Mandal teams & common man.
Mumbai! Alarmed by the many fire incidents that have occurred in Mumbai in the past few years, Fire & Security Association of India (FSAI), Mumbai Chapter along with Mumbai Fire Brigade, Mumbai Police and Disaster Management, BMC had decided to ensure the safety of the devotees in Ganpati Mandals of Mumbai.
Ar. Shrreyash Atmaram Sarmalkar, Journals & Publications Chair, Mumbai Chapter, FSAI said, Our objective is to create public awareness about the security risk mitigations from fire and terrorists by bridging relations between the law enforcement agencies, mandal committees, corporate houses and expert security companies. There are more than 2000 Ganesh mandals in Mumbai and the number of tourists and devotees visiting these pandals keep increasing every year. Few pandals even see over 2000 to 3000 devotees at a time. Due to the traffic jams during Ganeshotsav, many innocent citizens may die in an emergency situation, etc. until the fire brigade reaches the location and realizing the seriousness of this situation, for the past 11 years, we at FSAI, Mumbai Chapter a non profit organisation, have been guiding Ganesh Mandals through Fire and Security Audit. We provide proper guidance to the Ganesh Mandals for the safety of the citizens visiting pandals without charging any Ganesh Mandals. Our organization has 24 chapters all over India. Due to pandemic the last two years had seen, we all adhering to the set government restrictions. This year with all activities coming back to normal we initiated our yearly audit process of the Ganesh Mandals in Mumbai. The most well organized, secure, coordinated mandal is judged by an esteemed elite panel of seven to eight independent and impartial jury members comprising of Mumbai Police, Mumbai Fire Brigade, Disaster Management officer, Architect, Fire Safety & Security, Risk, etc. subject matter experts.
Mr. Rupesh Umtol, President, Mumbai Chapter, FSAI said, during Ganesh Chaturthi Festival in Mumbai, responsibility on safety & security measures increases manifold and protection of such a large number of devotees becomes a challenging task. Keeping this aim towards life safety & security, Fire and Security Association of India (FSAI), Mumbai Chapter with the help of Mumbai Fire Brigade, Disaster Management, BMC & Mumbai Police, instituting India’s only ‘Safe & Secure Ganesh Mandal Awards 2022’ from a decade or so in order to sensitize the Sarvajanik Mandal Committees about enhancing the security measures to reduce the risk factors during the festive season. The prevailing environment in the nation has increased the security threat especially during religious festivities and protection of large crowds is a key concern for the society.
Mr. Sameer Thakkar, Secretary, Mumbai Chapter, FSAI added, this time around under Mumbai Fire Brigade, FSAI Mumbai chapter representatives trained Ganesh Mandals representatives who attended the preparedness program in 24 BMC wards with MFB representative in record time within 4 days. This time around with our chapter President’s vision to audit mandals strictly fitting our safety and security set parameters, were successfully audited with 5 Ganesh mandals been selected for the Final Audit stage.
FSAI Aim:
Through such awards FSAI, Mumbai Chapter encourages a spirit of safe living among all citizens and inculcate a proactive mind-set towards safety and security of human life & property at all times.
As per set audit parameters this year total five mandals shortlisted for the final stage were successfully audited on 7th September 2022 by an esteemed panel of 8 independent and impartial elite jury members including the esteemed personalities from Disaster Management, BMC and Fire, Security, Risk & Safety industry subject matter experts.
Ar. Shrreyash Atmaram Sarmalkar, Journals & Publications Chair, Mumbai Chapter, FSAI shared the Jury Member’s Role:
# Audit the mandals on set parameters from security, safety, surviellance perspectives where their subject matter expertise and experience comes into play which is of prime importance.
# Check for the most well organized, secure, coordinated mandal.
# Guidance on enhancing the security measures to reduce the risk factors during the festive season.
# Observe safety & security violations if any.
# Observe suspicious activities or movements.
# Interview site security guards,
# Check quantity and location of CCTV, types of cameras installed, coverage, etc.
# Check knowledge of volunteers on use of fire extinguishers, etc..
# Check for Metal detectors, dog squad, etc.
# Check safe exits, installation of emergency evacuation plan at proper locations, etc.
# Check for availability of ramps with proper slope proportion for assisting specially challenge people, senior citizens, etc..
# Check for necessary insurance covers, etc.
# Check for doctors, first aid, medical facility, ambulance & fire tender truck availability at the location.
# Check on installation of ELCB, proper earthing, other electrical works & mechanical installations.
# Suggesting mitigation plans wherever required during the visit.
# Views on measures taken by mandals and improvisation for enhancement wherever required.
Final Audit stage Elite Jury Panel for the Mumbai’s, FSAI Safe & Secure Ganesh Mandal Awards 2022 were:
1. Mr. Rajendra Lokhande, Disaster Management, BMC.
2. Ar. Shrreyash Atmaram Sarmalkar, FSAI. (Architecture, Project Management, Safety, Security, MEP Domain).
3. Mr. Santosh Deshpande, FSAI. (Electrical Domain)
4. Dr. Surendra Rathod, FSAI (Civil Engineering Domain).
5. Mr. Harshad G. Tulsulkar, FSAI
(Security Domain).
6. Mr. Krishnakumar Chavan, FSAI (Security Domain).
7. Mr. Amol Bhamre, FSAI (Security Domain).
8. Mr. Ravi Shah, FSAI (Security & Safety Domain).
Winners of Safe & Secure Ganesh Mandals this year are,
* Mumbaicha Raja, Lalbaug Sarvajanik Utsav Mandal, Ganesh Gulli won the First prize.
* Andhericha Raja, Azad Nagar Sarvajanik Utsav Samiti Mandal won the Second prize
and elite jury panel members will be felicitated by FSAI, Mumbai Chapter somewhere around mid of October.
Ar. Shrreyash Sarmalkar on behalf of FSAI Mumbai Chapter, expressed gratitude and special thanks to, all the donations given by our members and also from non members, Mr. Amit Shah from Kanex for supporting FSAI, Mumbai Chapter by agreeing to gift 1kg ABC type Fire Extinguishers and also Mr. Ravi Shah from Ambetronics for supporting FSAI, Mumbai Chapter by agreeing to gift PNG Gas Leakage Detectors to all winning Ganesh Mandals & Jury members.
Lets make safety an integral part of our life. Together lets make Bharat Surakshit.
Ganpati Bappa Morya!
Jai Hind
