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| Funds diverted for modernization of police force to combat insurgency | | State's fire fighting disaster management ill equipped | | Siddharth Salathia
Jammu, Sept 24: Eight years down the line since the deadly earthquake had hit the state in 2005 claiming hundreds of lives, State Home Department seems to be in no-win position to signal go-ahead for proposed 86 fire fighting stations in the state.
Immediately after the deadly trembler of 2005, state government shot up a proposal to Home Department to set up additional 86 fire fighting stations along with already 170 existing catering to the needs of nearly 1.25 crore population of the state.
The project however failed to make a headway, reason manifold, finance being the topmost impediment.
Fire fighting disaster management has become least priority for the government as it is using its resources to fight against the terrorist violence during past two decades. There are 41 stations in Jammu and 129 fire stations in Kashmir province, but they are not enough to deal with any major calamity.
While rapid expansion of towns and urbanization has increased the workload of the Fire Service Department but there has been no major modernisation of its equipment or personnel gear.
Department is still lacking even the basic equipments and field personnel does not provided with fire resistant suits, masks or potable oxygen cylinders to deal with any man made or natural calamity.
Sources attribute the poor condition of the department to the diversion of funds by the government for modernisation of police force to combat insurgency, which has put the expansion plans for the fire service department to backburner.
Directorate Fire Services confirmed that process has been started for capacity building and it has submitted its requirements and needs to the government.
However, till the new stations are established they are making use of the available equipment to deal with emergency situations. Since earthquake struck the state, the department has added many modern equipments and planning to deal with calamity has improved. "For the population of nearly 52 lakh who inhabit the ten districts of Jammu region there are only 70 tenders while Kashmir has nearly 100 tenders. Some latest vehicles and equipment has been added, but funds are the main constrains and there is no effort to create a dedicated emergency wing", said a source. However a senior officer said that main reason why the proposal did not materlise was the cost involved which was beyond the capacity of the government. Each new fire station involves expenditure of Rs 1.3 crore and an additional staff of 26 personnel at each station, which is quite out of budget for the funds allocated to the department. |
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