New Delhi, June 8 -- Amid growing concerns over fire safety following a series of major fire incidents in the Capital, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Sardar T.S. Sandhu on Monday asked officials to explore the induction of ex-Agniveers to address manpower shortages in the Fire Department, while simultaneously ordering stricter enforcement against illegal constructions and fire safety violations across the city.
Chairing a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), attended by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Home Minister Ashish Sood and PWD Minister Parvesh Verma, the L-G reviewed Delhi's fire safety preparedness, heatwave response measures and monsoon flood management plans.
Highlighting the need to strengthen emergency response capabilities, Sandhu suggested that ex-Agniveers could be utilised to fill operational vacancies in the Delhi Fire Services. The proposal was discussed as part of a broader plan to enhance the department's workforce and improve its readiness to deal with emergencies. The meeting also reviewed plans to increase the number of fire stations across Delhi to reduce response times during emergencies.
The L-G stressed that the Capital's vulnerabilities should be viewed as opportunities to improve preparedness. "The challenges faced by the Capital in terms of disaster vulnerability should be treated as opportunities to learn, prepare and stay resilient," he said.
Reviewing the ongoing crackdown on illegal buildings and misuse of licenses, Sandhu made it clear that enforcement agencies must strike a balance between strict action and public convenience. "While safety rules must be followed, enforcement should never become an excuse for the harassment of ordinary residents," he said. However, he directed authorities to immediately stop "ongoing blatant and brazen non-compliant illegal construction in the city and unauthorised plotting of land."
During the meeting, officials informed the L-G about the progress of enforcement drives being conducted by special teams comprising District Magistrates, Deputy Commissioners of Police, MCD officials and Delhi Fire Services personnel. These teams have been directed to submit regular Action Taken Reports (ATRs) for monitoring.
Expressing displeasure over the functioning of the Fire Department, Sandhu was informed that no notices had yet been issued by Delhi Fire Services during the ongoing enforcement campaign. He directed the Principal Director of Delhi Fire Services to take immediate action and submit reports to the offices of the L-G, Chief Minister and Home Minister. The DDMA also accepted Home Minister Ashish Sood's proposal for stricter implementation of Section 32 of the Delhi Fire Services Act, 2007, which allows fire prevention and safety measures to be applied to all multi-storey buildings, irrespective of whether they require a fire safety certificate. The L-G further warned that "any negligence, lack of diligence, or failure to perform will directly impact an officer's Annual Confidential Report (ACR) grading."
Reviewing monsoon preparedness, Sandhu called for strict implementation of desilting works and directed officials to ensure "absolute zero tolerance for waterlogging and flooding" during the rainy season. He added, "Administrative learning must never stop," urging departments to remain open to practical solutions and best practices from all available sources.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.