For a more effective response to fire incidents around the metropolis area, Juddha Barun Yantra (JBY) is planning to establish three new temporary fire brigade stations. The JBY has been run under the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC).
According to Badriman Nagarkoti, JBY operation chief has proposed to establish temporary stations, at the old trolley bus garage in New Baneswor, Sankha Park in Dhumbarahi, and Sitapaila within three months.
“We have proposed these areas as the growing traffic congestion is making it extremely difficult for fire engines to reach the accident sites in time from Basantapur station,” said Nagarkoti.
According to the plan, the temporary station at Dhumbarahi will look after Bansbari. Budhanilkantha, Sitapaila, and Dhapashi areas. The station at Sitapaila will supervise Kalanki, Swayambhu, and Thankot areas. The station at Baneshwor will react calls from Koteshwor, Chabahil, Baneshwor, and Sankhamul areas.
Dhaniram Sharma, chief executive at the KMC, said, “We have considered this issue very seriously, and going to establish the station very soon.” He said the plan will be instigated within this fiscal year.
According to Nagarkoti, each of the planned fire stations will be equipped with a fire engine and five staff members. The fire brigade will be coming to load water from the central office in Basantapur and will be kept standby in all three places.
“But the fire brigade will not be limited to the KMC, if needed, we are even ready to go out of the valley,” said Nagarkoti.
As per the international morals, there must be one firefighter for every 2,000 people and one fire engine for 28,000 people. But there are barely 10 fire engines and two dozen firefighters in three fire stations –Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur, in the Kathmandu Valley which has a population of over 4.5 million.
While meeting the international standards which remains a long shot, Nagarkoti is self-assured that the establishment of additional stations would go a long way towards more efficient and effective service delivery from the JBY in addressing the fire dangers in the Valley.
Reference: Ekantipur