A new well-equipped disaster management centre, which will provide emergency response in areas under the NDMC during any man-made or natural calamities, was unveiled at the heart of the city today.
The centre, the first under NDMC and the fourth such unit in the city, was inaugurated by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Located along Humayun Road over an area of 3000 sq metres, it will work in coordination with Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service (DFS) and Delhi Disaster Management Authority.
“There are three disaster management centres under DFS - in Laxmi Nagar, Rohini and Nehru Place. This is the first to be run by NDMC fire department. New Delhi is a VIP area with large number of high-rise buildings. In case of any emergency crucial time is lost when disaster management teams are sent from other areas. This centre will facilitate quick response,” NDMC Fire Officer Jasbir Singh said.
He said the Disaster Management Centre, NDMC, will be connected to police, DFS, DDMA and NDMC control rooms through hotline and will be operational round-the-clock with 25-30 trained personnel. “We can also deploy the unit outside NDMC areas if the need arises,” Mr. Singh said.
The unit has an emergency rescue tender, water tenders and browsers, a specially-designed smaller emergency response vehicle that will be able to travel through narrow lanes fast, modern equipment like cutters, spreaders and breathing apparatus, some of which are imported. Officials said the unit will have portable boats other than fire-resistant clothing and other accessories for personnel.
The personnel have been trained from National Civil Defence College, Nagpur. Mr. Singh said they will start training people, including NDMC staff and school-children on disaster management at the centre itself next month.
The one-storey building, constructed at a cost of 80 lakh, has a control room with state-of-the-art alarm system, emergency equipment store, staff room, dormitory, pantry, training-cum-conference hall with video-conferencing facility and coordination room, NDMC officials said.
Asked by reporters whether this unit will be useful during mishaps like the Laxmi Nagar building collapse last year, Ms. Dikshit said it will facilitate emergency response in volatile New Delhi areas.
Earlier, the Chief Minister also inaugurated two new NDMC electric sub-stations of 66 KV at Bapu Dham and State Guest House, Chanakyapuri, built as part of NDMC’s electric system strengthening and upgrading work. PGCIL was the turnkey consultant for the project and it has been executed by L&T.
The Bapu Dham station, which also has a rainwater harvest system, has cost Rs 19.02 crore while the cost of the other unit is Rs 16.31 crore. Completed in 20 months, the two stations will ensure uninterrupted power supply to areas like Sardar Patel Marg, Ridge Valley, Shanti Path, Nyay Marg, Vinay Marg, Diplomatic Area and Yashwant Place.
