Indian Express 15.09.2010
NDRF asks BMC to relieve it of monsoon duty
sharvaripatwa Tags : monsoon, corporation, bmc Posted: Wed Sep 15 2010, 06:50 hrs
Mumbai: National Disaster Response Force says it is needed in Delhi for Commonwealth Games securityWith the monsoon expected to withdraw by September-end, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) posted in the city since June has asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to relieve them from duties citing their requirement in the national capital during the Commonwealth Games.
The NDRF was supposed to be deployed for four months until September-end. Three teams of 45 personnel each had been deployed in the city since June to tackle any disaster-like situations.
“The NDRF has written to the BMC asking it to relieve them of their duties in Mumbai as they have to be present in the capital for Commonwealth Games,” said S S Shinde, Joint Commissioner (disaster management).
Sanjay Tyagi, Assistant Commandant, NDRF, Pune, said, “We have asked the civic body to relieve us and we intend to withdraw deployment of our forces by September 17 and send them to Delhi for CWG.”
“The NDRF has been of a great help in the recent incidences of wall and house collapses and oil spill,” said Shinde.
According to the data, in June, July and August, there were over 165 incidents of house and wall collapses which resulted in eight deaths and 40 injuries in the city.
There were over seven landlides during these three months. According to officials, the NDRF team had been deployed in over 5 rescue operations in the last three months. The NDRF personnel were posted at three most vulnerable “flood-points” — Kurla, Bandra and Andheri.
