Hyderabad: Telangana fire department got Rs 190.14 crore under the 15th Finance Commission Expansion and Modernisation Grant. The announcement follows a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the director-general of fire services, civil defence, and home guards, Government of India (GOI), New Delhi, and DG Fire Services, Telangana Y. Nagi Reddy, in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The grant from the Government of India amounts to Rs 142.61 crore, supplemented by the state’s share of Rs 47.53 crore.
With this funding, the fire department plans to establish 18 new fire stations, approved by the Government of Telangana. The grant will cover the construction of fire station buildings and the procurement of fire vehicles and firefighting equipment at a cost of Rs 57.04 crore.
The department intends to acquire modern firefighting and rescue vehicles and equipment, including one hydraulic platform with a height of 104 metres, a turntable ladder of 68 metres height, a hydraulic platform of 32 metres height, a firefighting robot, inflatable rescue boats and 18 quick response fire vehicles with high-pressure pumps. The proposed cost for these procurements is Rs 87.57 crore.
Additionally, the department aims to enhance the State Headquarters and urban fire stations with modern communication and computer systems at a cost of Rs 9.50 crore. The State Training Institute will also be upgraded with advanced firefighting training facilities and equipment, with a budget of Rs 9.53 crore. Further, the department will construct 11 new fire station buildings and two district fire office buildings at a cost of Rs 28.52 crore.
A source from the department revealed that, for the past six months, the fire department has been operating around 85 stations without designated offices. They have been using various government buildings provided by the state, including market yards and even the LB Nagar metro station building. With this new funding, the department will finally have its own designated offices. Notably, Telangana is the first state to receive such a sanction under the grant.
