On the occasion, the director-general of PURA, Yusupha M. Jobe stated the causes of fireplace outbreaks in markets are hardly or immediately established however there’s robust proof that poor electrical connection, overloaded circuits, and lack of upkeep proceed to pose the best dangers.
Throughout the sensitisation of {the electrical} security and nationwide wiring for market managers, electricians, and technical personnel wiring requirements, Mr. Jobe stated the discussion board goals to introduce modern concepts with the view to harnessing shared finest practices essential to security precautionary measures related to trendy electrical wiring and set up requirements.
PURA as a regulatory physique is remitted by the Electrical energy Act 2005, in sensitising the general public on power effectivity, electrical security, he added.
Causes, he stated the socio-economic and environmental impacts of the market hearth outbreaks are multifaceted and significant.
Director Jobe recalled the previous incidences of inferno skilled in The Gambia; saying these incidents resulted within the irreparable lack of items and properties. Sadly, he continued, folks’s livelihoods have been decimated in minutes and their sources of earnings have been minimize off and households have been traumatised perpetually.
He additional implored the contributors to have a radical understanding {of electrical} security and nationwide electrical wiring requirements to minimise and forestall potential market-related fires sooner or later.
The governor of Decrease River Area, Rohey John-Manjang, expressed gratitude to PURA for the initiative.
“The discussion board is well timed as a result of it isn’t solely to debate issues and options however to place down measures that shall be controlling the upkeep of the wiring requirements,” she stated.
Governor Rohey added that sustainable options are required to minimise hearth outbreaks in markets and with such, Gambians ought to bypass unlawful connections and apply for the Nationwide Electrical Wiring Requirements.
“Fireplace outbreaks within the Gambian markets have broken properties; ruined the household companies, and causes irreparable damages to residing and livelihoods,” she stated, including that normal measures have to be taken as a result of irrespective of how a lot assist the victims of fireplace outbreaks achieve, to get well utterly is nearly inevitable.