PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has announced that the government is considering the long-pending proposal to provide a fire risk allowance to firefighters and officers.
"The Goa government is considering the longstanding demand of offering a Fire Risk Allowance to firefighters from this financial year," he said while addressing the gathering at the National Fire Service Day event held at the Fire Force Training Ground today.
He also stated that Goa is the first state in the country to have built 11 multipurpose cyclone shelters with financial support from the Centre.
“The Central government has extended assistance worth Rs 340 crore for the development of these 11 cyclone shelters. Also, 40 well-equipped mitigation centres are currently being used on a temporary basis by the Fire and Emergency Services and the police. In the long term, they will play a key role in disaster management,” Sawant, also Home Minister, said.
He commended the Fire Department’s round-the-clock service in responding to fires and other emergencies, stating that personnel had saved property worth Rs 44 crore in the past year alone. He also cited that 398 human lives were rescued in fire-related and other accidents during this period.
The CM further urged industrial units to obtain fire safety certificates by implementing necessary safety measures, stressing that the move should not be seen as harassment.
He also informed that Goa has trained 350 Aapda Mitras and Aapda Sakhis, who serve as volunteers for emergency assistance across the State.
