PORVORIMr rSet up at the Pilerne Industrial Estate in August 2011, the PFS has had a wide jurisdiction of three villages in Porvorim constituency, six villages in Saligao constituency and the busy coastal areas of Calangute, Candolim, Sinquerim and Baga in Calangute constituency. rBut despite its large area of operation, the PFS has been equipped with a lone fire tender with 4,500 litres carrying capacity and one quick response vehicle crane. rThe 33 fire personnel attached to the PFS attend to an average of 350 calls per year. In 2016, the PFS attended to 385 calls, comprising 199 fire calls and 186 other emergency calls. rA major problem confronting the PFS is the lack of proper water and power supply. r“Between March and May, there was power shedding from 6.30 pm to 2.30 am, leaving the fire personnel on duty to work in total darkness at night,” said PFS Officer Incharge Andrew Lobo. r“We communicated this problem to our head office, which, in turn, wrote to the Porvorim electricity department assistant engineer on June 19, requesting the department to connect the PFS with the Candolim Church Feeder (Goa Energy Development Agency feeder),” Lobo added. The irregular water supply has also severely hampered the PFS. rThe station receives tap water for barely an hour each day and that too, between Monday and Saturday. The staff deputed by water department of PWD do not release water supply to the PFS on Sundays and holidays. r“Such was the situation in the past that we were forced to sent our fire tender all the way to the Mapusa fire station just to fill water, involving time, money and effort. Since July 2016, this practice was stopped and we have been meticulously storing the meagre water supply during weekdays,” said Lobo. rHowever, the water tank at the PFS can barely cater to one trip of the fire tender per day and multiple calls during the day would leave the fire tender without water. r“We have written to the PWD water division on several occasions seeking improved water supply, but our efforts have been in vain. We urge the government to provide a separate water pipeline for the PFS,” said Lobo. rThe fire personnel also face difficulties of their own, especially on night duty. rThere are no canteen facilities in the station or in the vicinity and the staff is required to perform a 24-hour duty. r“We join duty at 11 am and get relieved only at 11 am the next day. While leaving home, we bring our lunch but during night time, we face problems as there is no canteen facility in and around the area,” said a fireman. rLobo mentioned that despite several difficulties at PFS, the staff have displayed commendable spirit while attending the fire and emergency calls. r“They have shown exemplary discipline and courage while discharging their duties and have received encouragement and appreciation from our Director Ashok Menon and Assistant Divisional officer (north zone) Ajit Kamat,” acknowledged Lobo. rrr‘Improved power in 2 months’ rPORVORIM: Accepting the difficulties faced by the Pilerne Fire Station (PFS) regarding erratic power supply, the electricity department is likely to connect the PFS with the Goa Energy Development Agency feeder at Candolim within two months. r“Yes, we have received a letter from the Directorate of Fire and Emergency services at Panaji and we are preparing estimates to connecting the PFS to the GEDA feeder,” said Electricity Department Assistant Engineer Anil Kumar. r“The PTS should get better power supply within the next 2 months,” he added.
Pilerne Fire Station fights with lone tender, erratic water, power supply
Attending to emergencies is only one challenge for the Pilerne Fire Station (PFS). Finding sufficient water to fill its lone fire tender, combating erratic power supply at the fire station and securing basic facilities for its staff are even greater struggles confronting the station.
