No power supply, phone connection for fire station

The new fire substation at Udyog Vihar Phase 1 is bereft of electricity, phone connection and other infrastructure facilities despite the assurances given by the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG). Sunil Thapliyal reports.

The new fire substation at Udyog Vihar Phase 1 is bereft of electricity, phone connection and other infrastructure facilities despite the assurances given by the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG).

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The substation was supposed to start operation in May last year. However, around 11 months have passed and the fire substation is still waiting for basic facilities. This industrial township has 1,250 units and majority of them are prone to fire.

“In January this year, we were given assurance by the MCG that it will sort out these problems. But nothing has changed as yet. Udyog Vihar Phase 1 is an industrial area, which needs a dedicated fire station to avoid any untoward incident. The response time is very crucial to control a fire,” said a fire official on condition of anonymity.

“MCG has been delaying the functioning of the substation for many months by not providing these facilities,” said the official.

When HT contacted the MCG, officials said the problem would be soon resolved. “I have given the order to sort out the problem. We are committed to provide basic facilities to the substation and it will start its operation soon,” MCG commissioner Sudhir Rajpal said.

The fire substation will have three fire tenders and 28 fighters. “The new substation will add more teeth to the fire department to deal with untoward incidents in the city,” said a fire officer in the city.

Meanwhile, local businessmen are against the functioning of fire substation in the area. “The fire station will create trouble for us. Fire officials will blackmail us to get NOC and complete other formalities. We don’t want any fire station in our area,” rued a local businessman.