Building collapse: After 2 disasters in a month, NDRF to get a base in Thane

The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) had first made a request for a permanent NDRF presence in the city, at the state government’s monsoon preparedness meeting in 2014.

On May 28 this year, TMC Commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal had made the same request at the monsoon preparedness meeting, state government sources said.

“Jaiswal had cited the building collapses of 2013 while making a renewed pitch. The Chief Minister had directed the TMC to look for accommodation for the NDRF,” a senior NDRF official said. After 21 people died in two building collapses in Thakurli and Thane in July and August, the TMC’s search for a base has intensified. “The plan is to station a team of 50 men, dogs and equipment. The  TMC are looking for rented accommodation,” the official said.

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Confirming the request, a senior civic official said: “Both, in the case of Mumbra and Thakurli collapse, Mumbai NDRF team was on duty. Officials from TMC, however, want a special team dedicated to the district.”

Meanwhile, the NDRF has approved of a dilapidated fire brigade staff quarters building in Deonar as its permanent base. “The location has been approved and we will move in when the base is ready. The search has been going on since 2011, but it has only now been finalised,” said S P Selvan, Deputy Inspector General, NDRF.

Three teams of 45 NDRF personnel each will be stationed at Deonar, which officials say, will provide them easy access to the island city, eastern and western suburbs. The ground plus four floor structure will be built on an open plot next to the M/East ward office in Deonar where the teams will be provided with accommodation and recreation facilities. While the BMC had plans to build a centre at Bhandup Complex, these clashed with another water treatment project.

The centre at Deonar will also be equipped with a small control room to receive emergency calls and latest equipment used for rescue operations.

A senior civic official from the disaster management department said, “The plan is in its final stages of approval. Once it is done, we will open tenders and start the work,” said Mahesh Narvekar, Chief of Disaster Management, BMC.

While the proposed base is in the middle of a densely-populated residential locality and the approach road is narrow, senior NDRF officials admitted that a compromise had been made with the BMC to end repeated delays. The building is located very close to an open ground that will serve as an exercise area.

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com