CM flags off Motor Bike With Water Mist

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: “The vacancies in the Fire and Rescue Department will be soon filled,” said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy while flagging off the ‘Motor Bike With Water Mist’. The new motor bikes, equipped with extinguishers, were inducted into the arsenal of Fire And Rescue Department as part of modernising the Department.Oommen Chandy, in his inaugural speech, said that 1,258 posts which  were lying vacant in the department will be filled soon. The thirteenth  Finance Commission  has allotted  Rs 137 crore  for modernising Fire Stations in five Corporations and 60 Municipalities in the State. This will increase the efficiency of the department. Special attention will be given to address the grievances of the officers who died while on duty. The relatives of those who die in harness will be entitled for employment from the date of death itself, he said.Empowering the  Fire And Rescue Department will be the prime proposition of the Government. Modern training will also be imparted to the trainees, he said. To the elation of the employees of the Department, the Chief Minister announced that the demand to mark training period to the service period will be considered.The Chief Minister also inaugurated the premiere of the documentary film ‘Agnishamana Suraksha Sena’, a joint venture of  Fire Department and Kerala State Film Development Corporation. He also distributed SIM cards available under CUG  scheme which facilitates free calls to all Fire Stations and Police Stations, to the officers. The plaque which bore the names of 10 officers who died while performing their duty was unveiled by Chandy. Transport Minister V S Sivakumar, Mayor K Chandrika,  Fire and Rescue Department Commandant General Prem Shankar,  Kerala State  Film Development Corporation M D Sanjeeb Padjoshi and Councillors K Suresh Kumar and R Harikumar  also spoke.