According to CFES officials, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar will inaugurate the building in the presence of Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral, Sanquelim MLA Dr Pramod Sawant, Curchorem-Cacora Municipal Council Chairperson Carmelina Fernandes and others.
The new building is built on 4,420 sq mtrs of land at Curchorem-Oddar-Xelvona road at an estimated cost of Rs 8.14 crore. The CFES was started at Curchorem in 1984 and till date, it was functioning from the premises of the Curchorem police station.
Heeding to the demand of the people, the then Congress government decided to construct a new independent building for CFES through Goa Infrastructure Development Corporation. The foundation stone was laid by former chief minister Digambar Kamat on March 3, 2011, in the presence of former Curchorem MLA Shyam Satardekar, who was instrumental in acquiring the land.
The CFES caters to a vast area which stretches across four talukas, including Curchorem and Sanvordem, Mapa-Panchwadi, Dabal, Sancorda, Balli, Neturlim, Dudhsagar, Collem. Quepem, Sanguem and surrounding areas. Despite this, the CFES is equipped with only two vehicles. While one is 30 years old, the other is 16 years old.
Speaking to Herald, MLA Cabral expressed happiness over completion of the project and said the government has already procured two new fire tenders, one ambulance and one vehicle with all the modern accessories, mostly imported. “The four new vehicles will also be inaugurated on the day along with the new premises,” he said.
He said he has put a proposal before the government to provide the station with small speedboats and a diving kit. “This is to enable fire fighters to rescue lives and property in the Mandovi river, which is near the station, as well as in many other rivers and lakes, under the jurisdiction of the station,” he added.
