M A I N   N E W S

Fire hydrants buried under roads
From Raman Mohan

HISAR, Oct 2 — With fire hydrants buried deep under the roads and firemen grossly ill-equipped, Haryana is virtually sitting atop a tinderbox. As a result, despite the Dabwali fire tragedy, the state continues to be one of the most unsafe places from the fire angle.

Fire sydrants are legally required to be erected across all towns for easy access by fire brigades to a water source in case of a fire. However, inquiries by The Tribune reveal that while no new fire hydrants have been built over the decades, hundreds of those that existed decades ago all over the state have been buried under roads as no attempt was made to modify these every time the municipal roads were raised.

Fire brigades in Haryana now have to rush back to the fire stationor the nearest waterworks or canal for refilling, halting fire-fighting midway. It was to prevent exactly such situations that a legal provision was made for the civic bodies to erect fire hydrants in their respective towns several decades ago. These hydrants are required to be connected to a water source for round-the-clock water supply. The law prohibits use of these hydrants for any purpose other than supplying water to fire brigades in case of a fire.

Inquiries from all over Haryana reveal that no civic body is maintaining registers of such hydrants showing their location. Maintenance of such registers is a legal requirement. The law also makes it mandatory for fire service officers to check the hydrants once a month and record a certificate that these were found in order. However, there are no fire hydrants or registers left for the officers to inspect. Incidentally, the breach of this law is a criminal offence. Only petroleum and LPG companies have erected fire hydrants inside their depots or filling units. However, these are little consolation as such plants are invariably located on the outskirts of the towns as a safety measure.

The fire service officers are supposed to advise the municipal bodies about the location of fire hydrants to ensure that plenty of water is readily available for fire-fighting in all parts of the town. This is no longer being done for the simple reason that no funds are available for the purpose. No new fire hydrants are, therefore, being erected anywhere in the new colonies and commercial areas being developed in Haryana.

Fire stations employed keymen to operate fire hydrants. Many of them continue to be in service, but without work in the absence of hydrants. They were supposed to open the hydrant enclosure and the valve inside it with a special key. One of these employees was sacked sometime ago, but a court quashed the dismissal order.

Fire stations in Haryana do not have standby generators. In Hisar, one of the biggest towns of Haryana, fire engines cannot source water from the fire station tubewell in case of a power failure as it does not have a generator to run the tubewell. In such an eventuality, the engines are rushed to a nearby canal for filling.

Inquiries also reveal that firemen too are ill-equipped to handle major fires. In a city like Hisar which boasts of a modern fire station, only one fire-axe is available for more than 35 firemen. Most firemen in the state have not been issued uniforms for two or more years. Even the gum boots are not available to them. The local fire station has only four pairs. Helmets too were found in short supply everywhere.

Legally, all fire stations which have more than four fire-fighting vehicles are supposed to have their own workshops. No fire station has its own workshop in the state. The vehicles are serviced by private garages. In the absence of adequate funding, most fire engines have rusted beyond redemption.

It was found that firemen are being deployed for clerical duties. The local fire station was sanctioned three posts sometime ago. Thus, three employees of the municipal corporation were promoted as firemen. However, they continue to function as clerks in the council office.

Even government buildings continue to be unsafe from the fire point of view. For example, no fire-fighting equipment has been provided in the five-storey mini secretariat here despite instructions of the fire authorities. The building houses all major government departments. Thousands of persons are crowded inside the building on every working day.

Reports from the districts indicate that fire safety laws are being given a go-by and no town is equipped to handle a major fire. Reports also indicate that government buildings are among the most unsafe.