Photo Credit : N. Biren Singh/Twitter

The Manipur Chief Minister – N. Biren Singh today emphasized the need to widen roads and rejuvenation of waterbodies to help Manipur Fire Services in dousing the inferno.

Speaking during the flagging-off 11 new fire-fighting vehicles and other equipment of the Manipur Fire Service Department at Khuman Lampak, the Manipur CM asserted that the new vehicles were meant to extend assistance during natural calamities. The fire fighting vehicles were meant for Imphal, Thoubal, Moreh, Bishnupur Tamenglong, Jiribam, Senapati, Kangpokpi, Ukhrul and Churachandpur.

Biren Singh noted that the roads must be widened to enable free-flow of emergency vehicles, like – fire service vehicles.

However, he also advocated for the rejuvenation of water bodies across every localities, so that these vehicles need not to go-far to fetch water.

“The city is highly congested, traffic congestion and narrow lanes will hamper emergency works. The government cannot act alone, we need the people to ensure that their local bylanes are widened so that atleast large vehicles, like the fire tenders can pass through these stretches,” – he stated.

“People are facing water shortage at an alarming rate. This water shortage is the outcome of deforestation, drying-up of rivers and disappearance of waterbodies like ponds and lakes in the state. During any eventuality of an inferno, we need water in every locality like ponds and rivers but our waterbodies are dying,” – he added.

Around 64 vehicles are currently in service across the state, and 11 new vehicles with new sophisticated modern technology were being introduced today in the state. Meanwhile, the CM further encouraged the firemen to continue their services for the masses.

Taking to Twitter, the Manipur CM wrote “Delighted to have 9 Foam & CO2 Crash Tender, 2 Water Bouser and Portable Fire Pumps inducted into the Manipur Fire Service today. The induction of these machineries will give a profound boost to the capabilities of the Manipur Fire Service.”

Delighted to have 9 Foam & CO2 Crash Tender, 2 Water Bouser and Portable Fire Pumps inducted into the Manipur Fire Service today. The induction of these machineries will give a profound boost to the capabilities of the Manipur Fire Service. pic.twitter.com/8yLHDcWG4E

— N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) September 14, 2022