Chandigarh: "A separate Fire Directorate would come up in order to provide better fire services to the urban population of the state." This was disclosed by the Local Government Minister, Punjab, Navjot Singh Sidhu during the question hour on second day of the second budget session.

Chandigarh: "A separate Fire Directorate would come up in order to provide better fire services to the urban population of the state." This was disclosed by the Local Government Minister, Punjab, Navjot Singh Sidhu during the question hour on second day of the second budget session.

He said that fire and ambulance are the two essential services which must be provided quickly without losing anytime but the previous regime didn't paid any attention towards this vital aspect.

He further said that Punjab has 195 fire vehicles for 54 fire stations out of which 114 are outdated. On the issue raised by the MLA regarding Sunam having no fire station, the minister said that the previous dispensation totally neglected this sector. 

The minister also divulged that the Union Government gave a grant worth Rs. 90 crore for fire services out of which only Rs. 17 crore were spent and that too for small vehicles.

Sidhu also revealed that till now, there is no vehicle for fire services equipped with hitech ladder although hordes of multi-storey structures have come up in the cities barring one at Mohali.

He assured the house that the department would purchase the ultra modern vehicles for all the fire stations and a Fire Prevention Act would also be enacted by the department.