PMC plans to appoint new firemen, upgrade equipment

NAVI MUMBAI: The Panvel Municipal Council (PMC) has been planning to move a resolution for appointing additional staff members and upgrade the firefighting equipment. PMC is planning to move a resolution in this regard at the next General Assembly.
Panvel should have a minimum of three fire stations, according to the size of its area; however, it has one fire station operating out of a shed with a 16-member staff, one water tender, one mini water tender and one high rise ladder.Staff from ONGC, JNPT and Cidco is enlisted in case of an emergency.
In order to overcome this situation, the PMC administration had written to the government to lift the ban on new appointments. Since permanent appointments were not permitted, it will hire firemen on contract basis. “We are planning to hire 12 fire fighters and three drivers on contract basis after obtaining the permission at the General Assembly. However, this will cost PMC an additional Rs 24 lakh,” said chief officer (PMC), Mangesh Chithle.
PMC has also written to the district collector to approve the funding for two fire tenders and one mini tender.
“The construction of the new fire station has reached its final stage and it will be ready for inauguration. PMC has spent about Rs 1.25 crore for it,” Chithle added.