CM Oommen Chandy justifies shifting Jacob Thomas from Fire & Safety

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Justifying the decision to shift IPS officer Jacob Thomas from the Fire and Rescue Services, Chief Minister  Oommen Chandy has accused Mr. Thomas of denying various distress relief services to the public and thereby causing much embarrassment to the government. He also flayed the action of Mr Thomas against high-rise buildings.

“I fully own up the responsibility for shifting Thomas. Neither Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala nor Urban Affairs Minister Manjalamkuzhi Ali need to be blamed. Many decisions of Thomas caused much embarrassment to the government. Officers who work against the expectations of common people in distress could not continue in fire and rescue services,” Mr. Chandy said.

While denying the allegations that  Mr  Thomas was shifted owing to pressure from builders, Mr. Chandy flayed the restriction imposed by him on granting clearance to high-rise buildings. 

“It is the responsibility of the government to provide sky-lift to Fire and Rescue Services. Hence denying clearance to flats for lack of sky-lift can’t be justified,” he said adding that steps to procure sky-lift for Fire and Rescue Services would be initiated.

Mr. Chandy also took on Opposition Leader V.S. Achuthanandan for criticising the government on the matter. “During the term of the previous LDF government also, flats were granted clearance without sky-lifts,” Mr. Chandy said.

Subsequent to a circular issued by Mr Thomas in the wake of the misuse of fire fighting vehicle for college celebrations, instances of fire and rescue service personnel refusing to attend distress calls had taken place.

Declining calls to attend a woman found unconscious in Kannur railway station and remove trees that uprooted at Thamarassery were some instances, Mr. Chandy said.