CM sanctions Rs13 cr for new Ambala fire station

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Ambala, July 16

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has met the long-pending demand for a new fire station in Ambala Cantt by sanctioning a special grant of Rs 13.38 crore for the project.

A senior officer of the Local Government Department confirmed here on Thursday.

The old fire station, with its walls and roof on the verge of collapse, will be demolished to make way for the new one.

It was last year that the local civic body had raised the demand for a modern fire station equipped rescue and foam tenders. Filling of vacant posts was its other demand.

Sources say at least six posts of fireman are lying vacant, while 24 on rolls are working without the safety equipment such as masks, gloves, body suits and breathing apparatus. They make do with helmets and gumboots only.

A senior firefighter said he and his colleagues had been putting their lives at risk. It will be equipped with hydraulic tools, drills, jackhammers, and flood rescue and disaster rescue equipment.