Agartala: The Tripura government has set a target to impart civil defence training to one per cent population of the state to ensure swift emergency response even in remote villages.
Several agencies, such as Central Training Institute and Border Security Force, have extended their support to the Fire Service department to raise more civil defence volunteers, Director of Fire and Emergency Service department Aninda Kumar Bhattacharjee said.
Addressing a press conference at the civil secretariat, Bhattacharjee said, “We are trying hard to raise awareness among people regarding the natural calamities and fire incidents. We have undertaken a host of initiatives to constitute a team of disaster management volunteers, women SHG workers, Ham radio volunteers and community volunteers for disaster response.”
“Master trainers of the Border Security Forces have extended their helping hands in training the volunteers and the state government has set a target to raise 40,000 volunteers across the state, which is one percent of the state’s total population”, he added.
According to the senior official, in recent times 1,000 civil defence volunteers and 2,000 community volunteers have already been trained, while 75 ham radio operators have cleared the exams.
“The state government wants to make sure that the threat to life due to natural disasters and fire incidents could be mitigated,” he added.
Besides, the Fire Department has also revised the process of obtaining no objection certificate (NOC) from the fire service department for private and commercial infrastructure.
Speaking on the issue, Secretary to the Fire Service and Emergency Response department Apurba Roy said, “We have revised the previous system and the whole process has been made online. Now, an applicant can submit all the necessary documents from home and within a stipulated time of 28 days, the department is bound to process the application. If the department requires any further document, the department will contact the applicant. Provisions of punishment have also been incorporated for any intentional delay in processing of the applications.”
On an average, the fire service departments receive 12 calls seeking help, of which three are related to fire incidents.
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