PWD seeks release of funds from Fire Department to conduct survey
Bijendra Ahlawat
Faridabad, March 4
A project for reconstructing unsafe and dilapidated buildings of one of the main fire stations here has been launched. While the work is expected to be carried out by the PWD, the latter has sought the release of funds for starting the work. The buildings of these stations were declared condemned in the survey conducted last year.
The office of the Additional Divisional Fire Officer (ADFO) has written to the head office for the release of Rs 53,100 to the PWD here for conducting the topographical survey of the buildings that have been declared unsafe in May 2023.
The PWD in its report had stated that while the load-bearing walls of the buildings had developed vertical cracks, the joints had decayed and had been missing at various points. It had been claimed that the RCC beams, columns and roof slabs had been lying damaged with the steel getting rusted and visible. There was seepage in the walls of the rooms and the flooring of the buildings were in poor condition. The buildings are located at NIT, Sector 15 A and Ballabgarh, which constitute 90 per cent of the available infrastructure of the department.
While the Fire officials here had asked the PWD to prepare an estimate for the project, the latter had demanded deposition of Rs 53,100 for the topographical survey on October 10 last year. But according to sources the work was yet to begin as the funds sought were yet to be deposited with the office of the PWD here. It is claimed that while the first reminder for the deposition of funds was submitted in September last year, the fifth such letter was written on January 24 this year.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the state government has sanctioned its approval for the purchase of 13 hydraulic platform fire tenders machines to deal with fire incidents in high-rise buildings across the state. The demand of such a machine for the city having a large number of high-rise residential and commercial buildings had been on for the past several years.
The department had been finding it difficult to tackle fire incidents in the buildings having a height of over 35 metres. A demand for hydraulic platforms of the height between 45 and 70 metres had been placed, it is said. Additional Divisional Fire Officer (ADFO) Satyawan Samriwal, said the work on reconstruction of the condemned buildings was expected to start soon.
