The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Fire Department in a state of neglect

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Fire Department in a state of neglect

By Vikram Sharma

HYDERABAD, OCT. 25. The Fire Department in Andhra Pradesh is `burning' within, and, it appears as though none, not even the State Government is coming to its rescue. Entrusted with the risky and strenuous task of fire-fighting and saving people's lives, the Department itself is in shambles.

Overburdened, meagre staff and outdated fire fighting devices -- this is the Andhra Pradesh Fire Services Department in short. The expectations from firemen are very high, but what about the conditions they are working in? The fact that the Government could not fill vacancies in the last several years and could not replace old equipment shows how serious the Government is about upgrading the Fire Department.

Posts vacant

According to sources, the total sanctioned strength for the post of firemen is 3,042. But, there are 996 existing vacancies which means that 33 per cent vacancies have to be filled up. Similarly, there is a sanctioned strength of 266 for the posts of Station Fire Officer. Of them, 149 posts are lying vacant which indicates that 56 per cent posts need to be filled up. Ditto is the case with the posts of Leading Fireman (76 vacancies) and Driving Operator (238 vacancies).

Surprisingly, there are a mere 40 `higher rung' officials, including three Regional Fire Officers and 23 Assistant Divisional Fire Officers throughout the State.

Equipment outdated

The status of vehicles and equipment is no better. There are 255 water tenders available with the Department. Of them, 18 were condemned while 70 more, which are above 15 years old, need to be condemned and there are 88, which have to be replaced. While there are 271 portable pumps, 16 were condemned, 72 of them need to be condemned and 88 have to be replaced. "Some were replaced by the funds provided by the Government during the recent Krishna Pushkarams," informs a staffer.

Orders only on paper

Similarly, there are 13 ambulances' available, of which five were condemned and five required to be replaced. There are 25 water lorries of which two were condemned and an equal number require replacement. According to a Fire Department official, the State Government recently cleared the file for the posts of drivers, but only on paper. Nothing much seemed to move after the file clearance. "Since last several years, the Department is functioning with lesser staff and outdated equipment," admits a lower rung Fire official.

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