Chakoora residents demand establishment of fire and emergency Station
Say every formality completed in 2021, accuse government of inaction
Pulwama: The residents of Chakoora village in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district have renewed their demand for the establishment of a Fire and Emergency Service Station in their area, accusing the authorities of ignoring their long-pending plea despite all formalities having been completed years ago.
Locals said that they have been pursuing the matter since 2020, and official procedures, including departmental approvals, were finalized by 2021, but the government has yet to issue a final nod for setting up the station.
“We have been waiting patiently for years. The file has moved through every required department, and all necessary formalities were completed by 2021, yet the project remains on paper,” said Abdul Rashid, a local resident.
“Every time there is a fire incident in the area, we have to depend on fire tenders from distant stations, which take a lot of time and results in heavy losses.”
Locals said that the nearest Fire and Emergency Service stations are located around 20 kilometres away, leaving the entire belt—comprising several villages—vulnerable in case of emergencies.
“In case of any fire mishap, by the time the fire tenders reach here, everything is already reduced to ashes,” said Mohammad Yousuf, another local. “We have raised this demand before every visiting official, but our pleas seem to fall on deaf ears.”
The residents said that several villages, including Chakoora, Panzgam and Litter areas could benefit from a centrally located fire station in the area.
They expressed disappointment over what they termed as the government’s “mute spectator attitude” towards a public safety issue of such importance.
Locals appealed to the Lieutenant Governor, CM and the Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services to intervene and approve the establishment of the station without further delay.
“It’s about saving lives and property. The government must act before another tragedy forces it to wake up.” they said.
The residents urged higher authorities to take immediate steps so that the long-pending demand of Chakoora and adjoining villages is finally fulfilled.
