DDMA meet: L-G eyes ex-Agniveers for fire dept

Amid growing concerns over fire safety following a series of major fire incidents in the Capital, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Sardar T.S. Sandhu on Monday asked officials to explore the induction of ex-Agniveers to address manpower shortages in the Fire Department, while simultaneously ordering stricter enforcement against illegal constructions and fire safety violations across the city.

- AIMAN FATIMA

Chairing a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), attended by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and PWD Minister Parvesh Verma, the L-G reviewed Delhi's fire safety preparedness, heatwave response measures and monsoon flood management plans.

Highlighting the need to strengthen emergency response capabilities, Sandhu suggested that ex-Agniveers could be utilised to fill operational vacancies in the Delhi Fire Services. The proposal was discussed as part of a broader plan to enhance the department's workforce and improve its readiness to deal with emergencies. The meeting also reviewed plans to increase the number of fire stations across Delhi to reduce response times during emergencies.