Action sought against Pachpaoli fire station officer

NAGPUR: Chief fire officer Chandrashekhar Jadhav has recommended action against fire station officer Naeem Khan for not shifting Pachpaoli fire station office to Sugat Nagar. In a letter to additional municipal commissioner Vishnupad Bute, Jadhav has also asked for recovery of losses caused at Sugat Nagar fire station, which has been ready since 2008.
Fire brigade sources said the Sugat Nagar fire station was completed in 2007-2008, and despite repeated directions by the municipal commissioner, the fire department has failed to start operations from the fire station.
In early 2000, the state government had granted Rs 50 lakh to NMC for constructing a fire station at Jaripatka. However, the corporation started construction work in 2006-2007 and completed it in early 2008. The building with all modern facilities has been lying unused since then.
Over the years, Pachpaoli fire station officer Naeem Khan has been repeatedly issued directives to move his station to Sugat Nagar. The CFO too was insistent on shifting out Pachpaoli fire station, since it was in a dilapidated condition. Khan had himself submitted a letter to the NMC city engineer regarding this, noting that the station is over 50 years old.
This year alone Naeem Khan has received four directives to shift his office. On May 2, the NMC's city engineer had also issued a letter to Khan to take over charge of the new fire station. The CFO too advised Khan to close down Pachpaoli fire station and start the Sugat Nagar fire station. However, Naeem Khan ignored all these directions.
Khan had claimed that the office was not ready for operations, said a fire brigade source.
On May 7, the CFO has approached additional municipal commissioner and in-charge of fire department Vishnupad Bute to take stern action against the Pachpaoli fire station officer for not obeying directives. He had also recommended recovery of losses incurred by the department due to theft at the empty fire station.
Electric equipment like fans, switchboards etc fitted at Sugat Nagar fire station have been stolen.
Sources also alleged that deputy municipal commissioner Rizwan Siddique is favouring Khan. In fact, he is protecting Khan by not taking any action against him, said some personnel in the fire department.
Deputy municipal commissioner Rizwan Siddique, though, refuted the allegations and added that if Khan fails to take over charge at Sugat Nagar he will ensure action is taken against him.