Indian Express 11.12.2009
Civic body to hike premium for fire service outside limit
Responding to the state government directive to municipal bodies to extend its fire brigade service in adjoining areas, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), which is facing staff and equipment shortage, has proposed to incur one-and-a-half times fire premium from the upcoming structures that fall within 10-km radius from its jurisdiction and eligible for the civic services.
“The state government has urged us to extend the fire brigade service to areas within 10-km radius from our jurisdiction. Earlier, the service was on demand basis but now it has become the civic body’s responsibility,” said PMC Deputy Municipal Commissioner Praveen Ashtikar.
The state government direction is to ensure quick rescue operations during any eventuality in the areas adjoining the city. It would be mandatory for the buildings coming up in the area to get no-objection certificate from PMC’s fire department, he said, “This would put additional responsibility on the already burdened fire brigade. Staff and equipment strength need to be increased, for which the civic body will soon start charging one time fire premium while issuing no-objection certificates and would also collect 12 years of fire cess from the citizens.”
Since, the service is being extended to citizens outside the PMC jurisdiction, a fire premium more than that charged in its jurisdiction is being proposed and a state government nod will be required for its implementation, Ashtikar said.
The number of fire stations in PMC jurisdiction will be increased to 16 from the existing 11, he said. The fire brigade staff would soon have an additional 45 hands (the existing strength is 444).
“We will also undertake a gap analysis of fire brigade staff and equipment based on the area and population it caters to. This will help us improve the services,” said Ashtikar.
The PMC will frame a new policy according to which civic amenities will be made available for setting up fire brigade stations, he said adding the focus would be on setting up the new stations in the PMC border areas so that the brigade is available for areas within and outside its limits.
