Karnataka to get 10 more fire stations by March 2021: Home minister Basavaraj Bommai

UDUPI/BENGALURU: Karnataka home minister Basavaraj Bommai, in a virtual ceremony, dedicated a new fire station at the newly formed Baindoor taluk in Udupi district to the state on Tuesday. This is the 214th fire station in the state and the fifth such facility in the coastal district after similar facilities in Udupi, Malpe, Karkala and Kundapur. The new fire station will be useful to cater to any emergency at Gangolli fishing harbour as well as Kollur Sri Mookambika temple.
Bommai said the government has set aside Rs 25 crore to set up 10 new fire stations in this year’s budget document and the fire station at Baindoor is one among them. A sum of Rs 2.5 crore has been set aside for constructing the new fire station building in 1 acre of land on survey number 263/P1 at Yadthere village along zilla panchayat road, the minister said adding the construction work will commence during the current fiscal.
Department of fire and emergency services has decided to fill up 1567 out of 2482 vacant posts by direct recruitment and recruitment process is underway, he said. The department has sanctioned strength of 7042 personnel, he said adding 14 trained firemen have been posted to the newly opened fire station at Baindoor, which for the time being will function from a temporary office set up using MPLAD and MLALAD funds, he said.
Lauding the dedication shown by firemen during emergencies, Bommai said the government making note of it has decided to encourage their selflessness and bravery. The on-going direct recruitment will be completed in next 2-3 months, he said, adding the department has decided to procure 20-25 emergency vehicles during the current fiscal. Process of procuring a fire ladder of 90metre reach for the state fire force is in the final stages, he noted.