Zirakpur sans fire station

Rajiv Bhatia

Zirakpur, April 28
It seems that authorities concerned have somehow ignored one of the very basic requirement of Zirakpur, which is considered a gateway to Punjab and is one of the most rapidly developing and expanding town in the whole Mohali district. Amidst a series of various plans and new projects one of the nearly two-year-old proposed project of establishing a fire station in Zirakpur is still struggling to see the light of day.

In the wake of the fact that Zirakpur has seen an overwhelming mushrooming of real estate business, multi-storied residential complexes, multiplexes, malls and marriage palaces and good increase in the population in the past few years, an independent and well-equipped fire station becomes a basic need, but surprisingly the authorities are least concerned about the safety of common man.

Sources in the MC revealed that in 2008, the Municipal Council had approved a resolution to set up a fire station in the town at a house meeting and sent the proposal for approval to the Local Bodies Department. But, this project is only on paper and nothing has been done hitherto. Sources said the council had decided to spend Rs 40 lakh for the fire station. The council had planned to buy one fire tender, two small fire engines and other fire safety equipments.

In case of blazing inferno, the fire tenders from Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula and Dera Bassi are summoned. In case of any emergency under such circumstances, firemen will certainly fail to reach the spot within the specified response time. However, since a long time Zirakpur residents have been demanding a fire station for the town. Nidhi Rana, a resident of Zirakpur says, “With the increase in residential colonies and multiplexes in the subdivision, the fire-fighting facilities are a necessity for the town”.

MC official claimed that the resolution for setting up a fire station in Zirakpur had been moved for the government approval two years back but did not get any reply. He said the fire station would be set up in the town shortly.