Cash crunch for new fire and Emergency Service stations

GUWAHATI: Even though Dispur has decided to set up 20 new Fire and Emergency Service (F&ES) stations, the Departmentally Related Standing Committee of the Assam Legislative Assembly for the year 2020-21 has found that fund is a constraint towards construction of the new stations.

The Assembly Committee has observed that there is an urgent requirement of funds for infrastructure development of 20 F&ES stations (13 sanctioned and 7 under consideration).

As per the norms at least two fire tenders (1 water tender pump & 1 mini water tender pump with accessories) are required for each station. An estimated cost of a water tender pump is Rs 42 lakh and mini water tender pump is Rs 30 lakh. Therefore, the committee has recommended that an additional amount of Rs 14.40 crore for procurement of the tender vehicles and accessories for the new 20 stations.

Assam has now 142 F&ES stations.