TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: In a laudable initiative, government has approved an insurance scheme for firemen who risk their lives to protect the community and either suffer disability or succumb in the line-of-duty.
The department which attended to a total of 5529 emergency and non-emergency calls and saved 149 human lives and retrieved property worth Rs 475.91 crores, during the past year, will now have an insurance that will cover all operational staffers including fighter fighters.
Director of the State Fire & Emergency Services Ashok Menon stated, “The government has in-principle agreed to the scheme, for which an amount of Rs 10 lakh was proposed. It will cover personnel who suffer partial or full disability and those who die while performing their duty,” he said at a press conference held to release the annual report, Thursday.
Menon recounted how firemen risk their life every time they go into a burning building or rescue people from dangerous situations. “In these grave situations there are possibilities of firemen can either lose an arm or eye…” he added.
Two more fire stations at Porvorim and Bicholim will be added to the existing 14 fire stations across the state. Menon informed that land acquisition process began soon after the government’s approval. The pending construction of Curchorem fire station will tentatively be completed by April 2013, Menon added.
Almost a year after procuring the much-needed 32-meter high Aerial Platform Ladder (for high rise buildings), the department is in the process of adding yet another fire apparatus to the existing modern equipments. ~ a Turntable Ladder for congested places and narrow roads such as Margao, Menon said. It is a specialised aerial apparatus used to gain access to fires occurring at height using a large telescopic ladder, where conventional ladders carried on conventional appliances might not reach.
“The apparatus is needed to rescue people from heights though our fire fighters have experience in it,” Menon stated, disclosing that department would strengthen its manpower and upgrade equipment. Recently, all Station House Officers incharge of fire stations were given two-wheelers for commuting.
The department which also runs fire Force Training Centre and has been identified as the Regional Training Centre (RTC) by the Ministry of Home Affairs, has trained 2072 officers in fire fighting, prevention and rescue techniques.
However, the department has sought separate infrastructure for Training College and staffers for this purpose on the lines of Police Training School in Valpoi. Director of the State Fire & Emergency Services said the matter will be discussed with the MHA for an approval and putting all logistics and other requirements in place.
The RTC has also trained personnel from various government, non government, hospitality and industrial sectors in the other parts of the country.
Meanwhile, a study of the fire hazard and risk analysis conducted by the Director General of the National Disaster Response Force has proposed several measures including doubling the present total staff strength, setting up more fire stations, equipment and more to improve functioning of the department.
Menon, who will be in New Delhi to meet the NDRF on Friday, will put forth the departmental requirements. “There might be certain changes. We will have a lengthy discussion with the organization and thereafter make a follow up presentation to the Goa government,” he said.
