The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to purchase eight Fibre Glass Motor Rescue Boats (FRBs) ahead of the monsoon season. Notably, Pune has witnessed several flash floods in the last few years.
“The civic fire department has only two rubber boats for rescue operations and they, too, are not in good condition. A total of eight rubber boats were bought 10 years ago,” said PMC disaster management officer Ganesh Sonune.
“The existing boats were insufficient and old for rescue operations. The civic administration after consulting with the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) has decided to procure eight FRBs which are considered to be good and long-lasting…” he said.
A total of eight FRBs each costing around Rs nine lakh will be purchased, the officer said, adding that two FRBs would be parked at the Central Fire Station office while the remaining six boats will be deployed at different locations like Sinhagad Road, Warje-Karve Nagar, Satara Road, Ghole Road, Nagar Road, Aundh and Baner.
The administrative officer of PMC Disaster Management cell, Shivaji Bhakare, said the civic body has trained around 2,000 civic staff and also those from a few educational institutes for disaster management. “Seventy civic staff each from 15 ward offices have been trained for disaster management. They will be pressed into service as per the requirement during rescue operations,” he added.
The disaster management cell has already activated its 24×7 control room and the same will remain operational till December end. Civic ward offices have also started disaster management cells in their respective areas.
Moreover, the PMC has asked citizens to take pictures and inform the civic body in case stormwater drains and nullahs have not been cleaned anywhere within the municipal limits.