Yashodhara V Bangera
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Oct 15: It has been several months since almost all the works relating to the construction of a new building of the Moodbidri fire brigade here were completed. The staff of the fire station here are eager to shift out of the rented building and occupy own building. But the issue of making water source available at the new facility has been working as a stumbling block for the shifting plan.

A well-equipped building costing Rs 3.52 crore has come up for the fire brigade in a two-acre plot next to Kadalakere Nisargadhama. It was built by Karnataka Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. The works have almost been completed. However, the fire station, which has been functioning from a rented facility at Gantalkatte here since the last 18 years, and which was rearing to work from its own new building, is now facing a unique problem. At a time when it appeared like everything is in place for the shifting the station, the issue of water source, which is a major requirement for any fire station, has cropped up, and is delaying matters.

The fire officials do not want to shift the station in haste and then grapple with the issue of water scarcity. They want to see that a source that can be relied on for abundant supply of water all through the year is created before the fire brigade can function from there. The fire department had filed an application with the municipality here for making borewell arrangement and street lights about four months back. As the location of this building happens to be the border area between the municipal jurisdiction and Puttige gram panchayat region, the chief officer had said that the spot would be inspected, and that if the municipality could issue building licence for the facility, water supply issue can also be addressed.

In the meanwhile, the department is contemplating to create water source for the fire station by using grants from the MP local area development fund, ministers grant and special grant from the deputy commissioner's fund.

Varadarajan, chief fire officer of the district at Mangaluru, said that the fire station would be shifted to the new building soon if water supply issue is sorted out. He added that point for digging of borewell would be finalized in a couple of days, and that water arrangement would be made if the request made to the government for grants gets favourable response.