Year after nod, no hydraulic ladder for Ludhiana’s firemen

LUDHIANA: Even a year after the purchase of a hydraulic ladder was approved to help fight fires in high-rise buildings, the officials of Ludhiana Smart City Limited (LSCL) have failed to do take any concrete steps regarding this. Without a hydraulic ladder, the fire fighters struggle hard to control fire incidents, especially the ones in which it’s dangerous or impossible to enter a building to put out the fire.
The project was approved in December 2021. The officials, however, blamed some technical reasons for delay and they have now consulted senior fire officials in Punjab fire directorate for solutions. The estimate for one hydraulic ladder is Rs 8.57 crore.
Meanwhile, sources revealed that officials will now again float tenders for the third time to get a hydraulic ladder, as last time a private firm had complained against the officials for not adopting fair means and giving chance to all companies. However, the officials claimed this particular firm had supplied one such hydraulic platform in Gwalior which reportedly collapsed, killing three municipal employees and injuring another. They said they did not want a similar tragedy here.
The sources also revealed that before floating tenders again, they have also asked the local bodies officials to clarify if they need to change any terms and conditions in the tender that was earlier floated.
Superintending engineer of municipal corporation, Sanjay Kanwar said, “We are going to float tenders for the third time shortly and this time it will be finalised.”
The fire officials have been raising this demand for past many years as without a hydraulic ladder, it is difficult to access multi-storey buildings whenever a fire breaks out there. In the absence of this ladder, the firemen are forced to climb the terrace of adjoining buildings to douse the fire.
Mohali had purchased one such hydraulic ladder a few years back, and now Amritsar has also purchased one.
Requesting anonymity, a fire official claimed that they had to risk their lives by entering buildings on fire. But if this ladder is purchased, they could control the fire from outside. He said the authorities should take this seriously.
Notably in 2010 also, a grant worth Rs 17 crore was released by the Union government for up-gradation of the fire brigade department, under which purchase of hydraulic ladder was also proposed. But since the money was not utilized timely, it had lapsed back then. The fire department is now eagerly waiting for the necessary life-saving equipment.