Fire stations suffer from civic body’s apathy

There are seven fire stations in different sectors of the city. Two of these – one at Manimajra and another at Ramdarbar – are relatively new. The remaining including those in Sectors 11,17,32,38 and Industrial Area are suffering from neglect. While the funds of the civic body earmarked for the renovation of the buildings remain untouched,the buildings are in dire need of upgrades and renovation.

At the Sector 17 fire station located in the heart of the city and nearest to the Municipal Corporation,renovation was started. However the contractor has left the work midway. The result is that the rooms are unusable. The residential quarters suffer from a similar fate with the incomplete renovation making it difficult for the firemen to stay there.

The fire station in Sector 38 is facing a peculiar problem. On the adjoining plot the construction of the mahila bhawan is being undertaken by Municipal Corporation. The construction material has been dumped in the vacant space at the fire station. Firemen inform that trucks carrying construction material frequently enter the fire station compound that creates obstructions. The building suffers from seepage and the windows are broken.

A similar situation prevails at Industrial Area Phase I. The condition of the residential quarters is such that for the past few years no one has been able to live there. The renovation,while started,has not been completed. The fire station at Sector 11 is no better with seepage in the building as well as residential quarters.

The firefighters at the fire stations inform that while the civic body has asked their requirements a number of times,these just remain on paper with no action being taken. At many of these fire stations,there was a proposal to build additional sheds to save the vehicles from the weather. This has not been done. Officials say that even their vehicles remain neglected.

Several letters written from the Fire Wing to the Engineering Department have not yielded any result. The issue has been discussed in the Fire and Emergency Services Committee. The MC Chief Engineer was asked to attend the meeting and the problems were brought to his notice.

Additional Commissioner and Chief Fire Officer Lalit Siwach said that the repairs are to be carried out by the Engineering department. The officials have been asked to look into the problems.