The Fire Brigade under Nagpur Municipal Corporation is being upgraded to meet the challenges posed by the fast-developing city. A master plan for expansion and upgradation has been prepared. The Fire Brigade and Disaster Management Department are being readied keeping in view the tall multi-storeyed buildings, shopping malls, small-scale industries, crowded markets, ever-expanding educational institution buildings, slums etc.
Chief Fire Officer B P Chandankhede informed that 22 Fire Brigade offices have been proposed for Nagpur in the master plan. The city at present has 13 centres of which nine are functioning and construction work of three is at the completion stage. Steps to reserve space for ten more centres have been proposed.
459 VACANCIES: Chandankhede said that 872 posts have been proposed under the new proposal. At present 611 posts for the nine centres have been sanctioned, of which 459 are vacant, which poses problems in meeting the challenges and demands of the affected people. Direct recruitment has also been proposed against at least 350 vacant posts.
EQUIPMENT PURCHASE: The Department gets calls following the collapse of buildings and trees, water-logging besides fire. Buying 14 chain saws, five inflatable power rubber boats has been proposed.
BAN ON SELFIE: The department has imposed a ban on taking selfies and swimming at Ambazari and Gorewada tanks as a safety measure. Notice boards are being displayed, and barricades erected at these places have been installed. GPS systems have been installed on 29 Fire Tenders.
VEHICLE SCRAP: As provided under the Moto Vehicles Act, nine vehicles have been discarded on completion of 15 years of service. The process for buying 14 vehicles has been started. The department is also procuring a 70-meter hydraulic platform, Chandankhede stated.
FUTURE PLAN: In the near future procuring seven new Troop Carriers for six centres and ten emergency tenders has been proposed. The construction work at Wathoda, Punapur, and Panchpaoli centres is almost complete and will be dedicated soon. Work orders for the construction of a water tank for training purposes have been issued at the Regional Training Centre, Chandankhede stated.