The Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) Department has sought Rs. 125 crore from the State government to better equip itself for disaster management. A proposal was sent keeping in mind the experiences during the floods in Chennai.
Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) and Director of FRS department Ramesh Kudawla told The Hindu here on Sunday that the government was actively considering the proposal. State-of-the-art equipment for effective disaster management would be procured with the funds, he said.
The department has procured three high-rise ladder platforms to fight fires in multi-storeyed buildings, a recurring incident in major cities across the State. Two 102-metre ladders long have been imported from Finland and they are expected to arrive in a month’s time.
The two ladders will be stationed in Chennai and on studying its performance more such ladders will be procured for the other regions. He said the government had sanctioned funds to procure the first set of 15 motorised boats to carry out rescue operations during floods. Orders have been placed for more rubberised boats. Bodybuilding work for 40 fire tenders at Pollachi is under way and the fire tenders would be handed over to the department in the next four months.
Plans to procure state-of-the-art equipment for
better disaster management
