Indian Express 22.04.2010
Ward control rooms to improve emergency response system
sharvaripatwa Tags : BMC emergency response system, mumbai Posted: Thursday , Apr 22, 2010 at 2319 hrs
Mumbai: In a bid to ensure prompt response to any disaster situation in the city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will set up control rooms in its 24 wards. The control rooms will function as nodal centres during emergency situations.
Joint Municipal Commissioner SS Shinde said these control rooms would be smaller versions of the control room situated at the BMC headquarters. Each ward will have a control room, and will have two-four employees working in shifts.
The control room in each ward will have three hotline connections and they will be connected to the local fire station, head disaster control room in the BMC office and the office of zonal additional commissioner of police.
The control rooms will be equipped with high frequency wireless communication systems, said an official. He said each control room would have a fax machine, two television sets, internet connection, tea/coffee vending machines and a pantry.
We have identified 12 vulnerable wards, especially those in low lying areas. We will deploy civil defence volunteers during monsoon,” said a civic official.
Over time, we hope that the functioning of ward control rooms will help us enhance the coordination with citizens and all other agencies, said S S Shinde. The ward control rooms are expected to start functioning from May 20. Around Rs 22 crore has been allocated by the civic body in the budget to set up ward control rooms.
The average area of these ward control rooms is between 600-1200 sq ft, said S S Shinde. He added that we did not get the desired space of around 1700 sq ft in some areas as per our initial plan.
