Tribune News Service Amritsar July 12 The Fire Brigade Department of Municipal Corporation Amritsar (MCA) has been facing acute shortage of staff and equipment. The office of the Accountant General Audit Punjab Chandigarh (Indian Audit and Accounts Department) asked the Municipal Corporation to fill the vacant posts and get the required equipment. As per the official record of the MC there are 125 sanctioned posts in the Fire Department of the MC. As many as 63 posts are lying vacant. The department has outsourced 33 employees on various posts such as drivers and firemen. Only 29 regular employees are working in the Fire Department. Apart from this the department has a shortage of 10 fire engines 25 fire-proof suits 15 breathing apparatus sets three generators two mini fire tenders two motorcycles two foam tenders two water bourses two light towers aerial ladder platform twin ladder table and advance rescue van. The Municipal Corporation had got some of the modern equipment under the Smart City a few months back. Currently the MC has only four fire stations. With the extension of the MC jurisdiction and establishment of outer city areas the Fire Department had proposed to set-up four new fire stations to effectively tackle fire incidents. As per the citys population which is around 13 lakh office of the Accountant General Audit asked to fulfill the shortage of staff and equipment. In the recent MC House meet it was proposed to buy 10 fire tenders two mini fire tenders two motorcycles two quick response vehicle 25 fire suits and a van. The amount of Rs 11.39 crore proposed to buy this equipment. Apart from this now the MC will also buy uniforms for officials and employees of the Fire Department. Lovpreet Singh Additional Divisional Fire officer said “We got the equipment under the Smart City. Now the audit team and director local government also ordered to buy all required equipment to tackle the fire incidents efficiently.”

Stay updated with all the Amritsar Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.