Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Wednesday stressed the need of widening roads and increasing water bodies to help Manipur Fire services to control fire.
Speaking during flagging off 11 new fire fighting vehicles and other equipment of the Manipur Fire Service Department at Khuman Lampak here he said the new vehicles were meant to help during the fire and other calamities. The fire fighting vehicles were Imphal, Thoubal, Moreh, Bishnupur, Tamenglong, Jiribam, Senapati, Kangpokpi, Ukhrul, and Churachandpur.
Fire personnel demonstrated the vehicles and equipment. Biren Singh said roads should be widened to enable the free flow of emergency vehicles like fire service vehicles. Emergency firefighting vehicles need to pass through the roads smoothly.
There is also a need to maintain water ponds in every locality so that the vehicles need not go far to fetch water, he added.
The new vehicles were huge and we need to widen not only the main roads but the bylanes otherwise the vehicles could not reach the destination, Chief Minister said.
The city is highly congested and the traffic jam and narrow lanes will hamper emergency works, he added.
The government cannot act alone, we need the people to get involved, the Chief Minister said urging the people to come out voluntarily and ensure that their local bylanes are widened so that at least large vehicles like the fire tenders can pass through.
People are facing a shortage of water at an alarming rate, the Chief Minister said. Shortage of water is due to deforestation, drying up of rivers, and disappearance of water bodies like ponds and lakes in the state, he said.
During any eventuality of an inferno, we need water in every locality like ponds and rivers but our water bodies are dying, he said.
He pointed out the deplorable condition of the rivers.
He appealed to the people to come out and actively participate in working for the welfare of society and added that it is not the time to criticize others but we should ask ourselves what we have done and contributed to society, and the state.
Around 64 vehicles are in service for Fire Service across the State and 11 new vehicles with new sophisticated modern technology were being introduced today in the State, the Chief Minister further encouraged the firemen to continue their service to the people.
Director Manipur Fire Services Themthing Ngashangva said the Chief Minister has been the backbone in the endeavor to modernize and enhance the capability of the Manipur Fire Services.
He said the Water Bouser introduced today has a 12,000 KL capacity. Due to the lack of water sources especially in the Imphal city area, vehicles with high capacity are required to control fires.
Foam Co2 and Crash Tender vehicles were among those launched. Such vehicles can deal with situations arising out of inflammable substances like accidents involving oil tankers, gas bottling plants, etc.
“Now with the introduction of the two pieces of equipment, we are at par with any other fire service in the country,” he added.
The Director also said that altogether 80 proximity fire suits among other things have also been introduced.
