LG addresses meet to review fire preparedness

I: Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Friday reviewed fire preparedness and future plans of the city's Fire Department.

Baijal convened a review meeting after over 100 shops were gutted and property worth several crores of rupees was destroyed in a fire that broke out in Moti Bazaar cloth market in Chandni Chowk earlier this week. The meeting was attended by Delhi Home minister Satyendar Jain and officials of Delhi Police and Delhi Fire Service (DFS).

After the meeting, Jain said that the Delhi government has decided to install CCTV cameras in fire tenders to identify motorists obstructing their movement while responding to emergency calls and fine the errant vehicle owners.

All fire tenders will also be equipped with GPS device to monitor their movement.

Baijal asserted that the DFS must assess its needs to strengthen itself in terms of manpower and machinery.

In view of the huge number of vacancies, particularly in the Operations and Communications staff, he directed the Department to get these filled up on a priority basis.

Baijal further directed adoption of a Standard Operating Procedure for effective coordination with Delhi Disaster Management Authority and Delhi Police, clearly delineating the tasks and responsibilities of each in case of a fire incident.

Baijal stressed upon the need for an annual schedule of all procurements well before time and ramping up of upgradation and modernisation efforts like computer-aided dispatch, GPS monitoring system of the fire tenders, procurement of latest protective gear and equipment such as robotic water towers.

He urged the Department to play a proactive role in recommending amendments to the building by-laws in matters of egress. Baijal also instructed that there should be regular drills to beef up preparedness and response levels so delays during incidents are reduced to a minimum and optimum coordination between all concerned agencies and the first responder is achieved.

G C Misra, Director, DFS, also stressed on major areas of concern faced by his Department.