Shimla : Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today here virtually inaugurated the newly established Fire Station at Nerwa in Shimla district. Congratulating the people of the area, the Chief Minister said the facility would not only respond to fire emergencies but would also play an important role in relief and rescue operations during heavy rainfall, landslides and other emergencies.
The Chief Minister said the new fire station would benefit around 55,000 people in the Nerwa area, with two fire-fighting vehicles to be provided shortly. He said the facility would enable timely protection of traditional wooden houses, commercial establishments and valuable apple orchards in the event of fire.
He said that previously, fire-fighting vehicles had to be dispatched to Nerwa from Chopal, Deha, Theog and Shimla whenever fires or other disasters occurred, often taking several hours to reach the affected areas. With the establishment of a fire station locally, prompt response to emergencies would now be ensured, he said.
Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said 17 new posts had been sanctioned for the smooth functioning of the Nerwa Fire Station. Two new fire-fighting vehicles had also been sanctioned, while the Fire Services Department had allocated a Type-B water tender to the station. He said Rs. 59 lakh had been spent on the purchase of the vehicle.
He said that the establishment of the fire station at Nerwa would further strengthen the emergency response and safety infrastructure in the area.
He said the state government was committed to strengthening the rural economy while ensuring that people living in villages had access to better, urban-like facilities close to their homes. He said the government would provide the necessary funds for establishing a milk plant in the area, and efforts were under way to secure the required Forest Conservation Act (FCA) clearance.
The Chief Minister said Rs. three crore had been released for the Chopal Mini Secretariat, while Rs. two crore each had been released for the Nerwa and Kupvi Mini Secretariats. The initiative aims to provide people with access to a range of government services under one roof, he added.
Congress leader Rajneesh Kimta, who was present at Nerwa on the occasion expressed his gratitude to the Chief Minister for inaugurating the fire station. He said the fulfilment of this long-standing demand would benefit Nerwa as well as the surrounding areas. He said that numerous development projects had been undertaken in the Chopal Assembly constituency during the tenure of the present government, benefiting local residents.
Rajneesh Kimta invited the Chief Minister to visit the Chopal Assembly constituency.
Additional Chief Secretary R.D. Nazeem, Director General (Home Guards) Satwant Atwal and senior officers of the Fire Services Department were also present on the occasion.
