Alarmed over the recent fire incidents in the State, Punjab will soon have a fire safety training centre. Besides, the State Government has also submitted Rs 500 crore plan to the Directorate General of Fire Services, Civil Defence, for transforming the fire services across the State.
“The Centre has assured every possible help to the State in this regard,” said State local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sunday, adding that a separate project, worth Rs 262.50 crore, has been submitted to the Union Urban Development Ministry.
Sidhu said that till date, the fire services sector has been largely ignored which accounted for the numerous fire accidents in Punjab. “I have instructed the Department to prepare detailed project reports to address the issue,” he said.
Sidhu had recently met the Director General Fire, Civil Defence, Prakash Mishra, “who after perusing the report said that it was for the first time that a minister from Punjab has sought funds for fire safety projects”.
“The Director General concurred with the report seeking funds to the tune of Rs 500 crore and assured of every kind of assistance. Apart from this, on the spot approval was granted to the opening of a Fire Safety Training Centre,” he said.
“I have also got a favourable response from the Union Minister of State for Urban Development Hardeep Puri to whom Rs 262 crore project was submitted,” he added.
Sidhu said that it was also decided in the meeting with the Director General that those small cities or towns, devoid of fire stations for parking of fire tenders, would see these fire tenders being parked in the police stations of those areas. Furthermore, fire volunteers would be employed for the purpose, he added.
The State Government would take special care to ensure that no fireman goes into the fire extinguishing operations without ultra-modern fire suit, he said.
The Minister said that the Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Act would be enforced strictly to prevent fire tragedies and those violating the Act would be strictly proceeded against.
“In the coming days, my Department would compile a list of the buildings violating the Act in the state and the owners would be served notices,” he said.
Sidhu, while detailing the project reports submitted to the Union Government, said that in the report sent to the Director General, a case has been made out for Rs 270 crore concerning fire stations, Rs 86 crore for aerial ladders, Rs 60 crore for advance rescue tender, Rs 18 crores for fire suits, Rs 20 crore for quick response vehicles, Rs 23 crore for training centre, Rs five crore for creating awareness regarding fire safety, Rs three crore for fire audit and Rs five crore for civil defence.
Similarly, in the report submitted to the Union Minister of State for Urban Development, a case has been made out for Rs 144 crore for fire tenders, Rs 78 crore for aerial ladder (TTl), Rs 20 crore for rescue tender, Rs 17.60 crore for kits and Rs three crore for life saving equipments.