Latest news with #Mehsana-based
Time of India
14 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
VMC to deploy 200 contract swimmers for monsoon rescue operations
Vadodara: For the first time in its history, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) will engage 200 swimmers on contract for monsoon rescue operations, following a proposal cleared by the standing committee on Friday. The initiative comes in the wake of last year's unprecedented floods and aims to strengthen the city's emergency response system. The swimmers will be deployed for three months starting in July and will function as rescue volunteers under the fire department. According to officials, the swimmers will be hired through a contractor rather than directly by the civic body. A Mehsana-based agency has been selected for the task, and VMC will pay Rs 95.58 lakh for providing the trained personnel. "This is the first time swimmers are being brought in through such a contractual arrangement," said Sheetal Mistry, chairman of the standing committee. "The administration had earlier considered hiring them directly, but we eventually agreed to engage them through an agency." The civic body has already undertaken significant work on the Vishwamitri river, stormwater drains, ponds, reservoirs, and recharge wells, but officials said they were not willing to take any risks during the upcoming monsoon. VMC typically employs skilled workers, including some fire department drivers, through agencies on a daily-wage basis. The same system will be used to engage the swimmers.
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Scarred by deluge, Vadodara to hire 200 swimmers
1 2 3 Vadodara: After the unprecedented flood last year, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) does not seem to want to take any chances. Despite extensive flood mitigation work being carried out, the civic body will be enlisting 200 swimmers for rescue operations in the city in case of any extreme situations. This is the first time in the city's history that the Vadodara Fire and Emergency Response will be hiring swimmers beginning July. VMC will spend nearly Rs 95.58 lakh as wages for these 'rescue volunteers' hired through a Mehsana-based private agency. The floods last Aug submerged the entire city for several days. Under widespread criticism over poor urban planning, a flood mitigation plan was taken up based on the recommendations of a govt-appointed committee. VMC has a system of getting workers through agencies on a contract basis and paying them daily wages. Some drivers in the fire department are also employed in this manner. The swimmers will be hired using the same route. "The conditions include providing trained swimmers along with fitness certificates. In case of an emergency, they will be posted in small groups at locations where flooding is imminent along with our personnel," said VMC chief fire officer Vinay Patil. Patil said that the swimmers were being enlisted as a precaution, as extra hands that can be used if the need arises. Once the swimmers arrive, the rotation of their duties and other details will be worked out. VMC chief fire officer Vinay Patil said that the swimmers were being enlisted as a precaution, as extra hands that can be used if the need arises. Once the swimmers arrive, the rotation of their duties and other details will be worked out. Patil added that the decision to pay daily wages was made to motivate swimmers and compensate them for income forgone for these three months. A proposal to engage the agency providing swimmers has been put up before the standing committee of the civic body. The civic body has completed several flood mitigation tasks, including re-sectioning of the Vishwamitri, dredging ponds, and increasing the capacity of the Ajwa and Pratappura reservoirs. The fire and emergency services department has begun testing rubber boats, including eight newly acquired ones, and other equipment.
