10-fold hike in fee for standby fire tender service at events

Three months after the General House approved the agenda, the Municipal Corporation (MC) has increased the charges for standby fire tender service 10 times. The service, including staff, is provided at various events in and outside UT.

The agenda had been approved in the General House meeting on June 3. As per the order issued by Amit Kumar, Municipal Commissioner, the MC will charge Rs 5,000 per hour, per fire vehicle for five hours subject to a minimum of Rs 25,000, along with GST as applicable from time to time for major programmes, and Rs 3,000 per hour, per fire vehicle for other functions.

For events held outside Chandigarh, it has been decided to charge Rs 7,500 per hour, per fire vehicle for five hours subject to a minimum of Rs 37,500, along with GST.

These charges will be increased by 10% every year with effect from April 1.

Earlier, the Fire Department was charging Rs 579 per hour/per fire vehicle for providing this service within Chandigarh, and Rs 2,205 and 3,308 per hour/per vehicle for events held outside UT.

The MC justified the decision by saying that the prices of petrol/diesel have been increasing day by day and also, the salaries of the fire staff have increased after the implementation of the 7th pay commission’s recommendations.

Firefighters are deputed on standby duty along with vehicles on a request by organisers. The value of a fire vehicle is from Rs.60 lakh to Rs 1 crore.