CANACONA
The Goa Housing Board (GHB) has allotted 2,275 sq. mtrs of land in Shristhal to set up a new Fire Station in Canacona.
In its communiqué to the Director of Fire and Emergency Services, GHB Managing Director Neeta P Amonkar conveyed the Board’s approval for allotment/transfer of land admeasuring 2,275 sq mtrs at Shristhal to set up a new and modern fire station at Canacona.
The communiqué also conveyed that Rs 4,700 per sq. mtre would be charged for the plot of 2,275 sq. mtre as decided in the Board’s 517th meeting on October 25, 2023, which would be allotted to the Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services with the prior approval of the government in terms of Rule 3 of the Goa Housing Board plots Rules, 2016.
Incidentally, Canacona Fire Station, which had been set up in one of the godown complex opposite the Canacona police station in December 1998 with just one fire tender and a station sub-officer, continues to cry for attention.
Except for some minor changes and improvements, the staff at the Canacona fire station was found to be inadequate and ill-equipped, besides found wanting in several emergency incidents.
Taking the opportunity at the launching function of Water augmentation and laying of new Pipeline at Shristhal on January 26, 2018, then Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar had commissioned a new fire tender.
Then Canacona congress MLA Isidore Fernandes had demanded the shifting of the Canacona Fire Station to a more suitable land and called for allotment of a suitable plot at GHB Colony at Shristhal to house the new fire station of Canacona.
On two occasions, the GHB land at Shristhal had been inspected by then minister Jayesh Salgaonkar, and also by the then GHB chairman in the presence of then Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes.
According to a GHB source, the file had been under process and finally during the GHB’s 517th meeting, the rates were decided paving the way for the approval. “It is for the government now to decide on the setting up of a new fire station,” said the source.
Once the project becomes a reality, it will provide better and more efficient services to the increasing population in Canacona taluka.
