Mamata backs for firefighting motorcycles to tackle fires in congested areas

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday stressed on the need of having more firefighting motorcycles to tackle mishaps in congested urban areas of the state. "I think we must increase the number of firefighting motorcyclists.

Its because it serves well in the congested urban region as well as in the slum areas. I have seen such services in Germany and it was when this idea had cropped up in my mind," Banerjee said at a programme of the Fire department at the state secretariat.

"Not only these motorcycles can get inside narrow lanes but also increase employment opportunities. I will request the disaster management, police and fire department to include more of these motorcycles in their fleet," she said adding that 136 motorcycles were currently being in the service.

The chief minister said that such firefighting motorcycles should be increased in the panchayat areas as high rises were also coming up there. Banerjee said that in the last seven years of her government's reign, 41 fire stations have been set up while 20 were under process and 41 were in the planning stage.

"Sixty-four years after Independence around 100 fire stations were set up (in West Bengal). And in the last seven years we have set up 100 fire stations," she said adding that 614 firefighting vehicles were purchased by the TMC government.

Around 30 firefighting vehicles with the capacity of carrying 5,000 litres of water, 20 vehicles with a capacity of carrying 8,000 litres of water and 40 mobile watchtowers for the West Bengal Police were flagged off by the chief minister.