DW BUREAU / Chandigarh In a bid to prevent any untoward fire incident thus bringing far more efficiency in the fire safety infrastructure across the state, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday dedicated new multipurpose fire and mini fire tenders in the 20 newly established fire stations. Highly lauding this citizen centric initiative of the Local Government department, Bhagwant Mann said that it would be instrumental in saving the life and property of the people from the hazardous fire incidents often taking place. He hoped that with pressing into service these newly multipurpose and mini fire tenders, the fire incidents involving colossal loss caused to the standing crops during harvesting season besides in industrial units, would be checked substantially. Earlier, the Chief Minister flagged off these fire tenders from Municipal Bhawan here this afternoon. Meanwhile, Principal Secretary Local Government Vivek Pratap Singh apprised the Chief Minister that these fire tenders have been dispatched to 20 fire stations newly set up in 13 districts namely, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Bathinda, Mansa, Ferozepur, Moga, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Ropar, Barnala and Sangrur. Besides, the department would soon receive the Quick Response Vehicles, which would be provided to these fire stations. Notably, at present a total 49 fire stations are functioning in Punjab under various Municipal Corporations and Municipal Councils, in which 207 fire tenders are working. At present in case of any untoward incident, these fire tenders have to cover a distance of 50 to 60 kms. To provide quick and better service to the people & to reduce the response time the State Government has set up 20 new fire stations and this would increase the number of these fire stations to 69 and the area of working will be reduced from 50-60 kms to 25-30 kms. Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included, Additional Chief Secretary to CM A Venu Prasad, Special Principal Secretary to CM Ravi Bhagat and Director Local Government Puneet Goyal. (editor@dailyworld.in)