The government is still to initiate work on the proposed fire stations at 10 important market yards in the state and as the wait prolongs, the ultimate losers are the farmers. Agriculture product worth crores are at stake. In the recent fire at Madhira town of Khammam, around 1.23 lakh bags of chilli, worth over Rs 50 crore, was destroyed.
In the wake of the major fire which took place in the Central Warehousing Corporation in Guntur in May, 2008, the government had issued an order in the same month to establish 10 dedicated fire stations in 10 important regulated cotton and chilli markets in the state. But the process hasn’t been initiated and the order is still only on paper.
According to the State Disaster Response and Fire Services Department, the project is late due to delays in the sanction of manpower orders from the government and also in releasing funds.
The 10 dedicated fire stations were proposed in market yards in Guntur, Warangal, Khammam, Kurnool, Suryapet, Adilabad, Nizamabad, Bhainsa, Karimnagar and Jammikunta. “The administrative sanction for manpower and non-recurring expenditure of Rs 4,070.40 lakh and recurring expenditure of Rs 267.43 lakh from the agricultural market committee was not received. That’s why the project couldn’t start as per the order,” said Mr P. Venkateshwar, director of fire service, AP.
There was another Government Order on November 4, 2009 which had accorded sanction for the establishment of the fire stations at the above-mentioned market yards. Based on the order, the state fire service department had written to the commissioner and director of agriculture marketing on November 9, 2009, requesting the release and transfer of funds of Rs 3,440.40 lakh towards establishment of the fire stations, including four hydraulic platforms with water bowsers but nothing was done. The concerned authorities haven’t yet disbursed the funds to complete the procurement process of fire vehicles and equipment, Mr Venkateshwar added.
Meanwhile, recommendations were submitted by a high-level committee constituted after the devastating fire at Guntur market yard where property and goods worth Rs 50 crore were lost.