Neilasa Sopfii, Inspector General of Fire and Emergency Services, addresses the gathering during the launch of the Modernisation of Nagaland Fire and Emergency Services-Management System project in Kohima on May 20.
Kohima, May 21 (MExN) A newly constructed Fire Station South building in Kohima was inaugurated on Wednesday along with the launch of the “Modernisation of Nagaland Fire and Emergency Services-Management System (NFES-MS)” project aimed at digitally transforming the department’s services.
The facility was inaugurated by S Kiusumew Yimchunger, Advisor for Fire and Emergency Services, Home Guards, Civil Defence and Relief and Rehabilitation, in the presence of W Chingang Konyak and Tseilhoutuo Rhutso.
The programme was chaired by Neilasa Sopfii, Inspector General of Fire and Emergency Services, who said the new fire station building was constructed under the Police Engineering Project at a cost of Rs 3.53 crore.
He said the station was one of the oldest fire stations in Nagaland and the new four-storeyed structure is expected to become one of the best fire stations in the Northeast.
According to Sopfii, the building includes four-bay garages for firefighting vehicles on the ground floor along with other logistical facilities on the upper three floors.
He also highlighted the launch of the NFES-MS project, which is being implemented as a pilot initiative in Kohima, Mokokchung and Dimapur districts.
The project aims to digitally transform the functioning of the Fire and Emergency Services department to improve efficiency, accessibility, accuracy and transparency through a centralised management system, he said.
A citizen web portal - NFES Nagaland Portal - has also been developed to provide online services, including recruitment processing, online payments, fire NOC applications, feedback and grievance submissions, geo-location of fire stations and access to departmental information.
Addressing the gathering, Yimchunger said the department had grown from humble beginnings into a modern and capable force.
He said the department is introducing modern firefighting equipment and aims to establish new fire stations across the state.
“With the launching of the Modernisation of Nagaland Fire and Emergency Services-Management System, the department will now be equipped with data and real-time scenarios in firefighting, which can help minimise the loss of lives and properties to a large extent,” he said.
Konyak urged the department to establish fire stations in ADC and EAC headquarters as well as at the village level.
Rhutso suggested the use of small water tenders and two-wheeler firefighting units equipped with fire extinguishing media to improve emergency response in congested areas.
He also proposed the construction of rainwater harvesting reservoirs in various localities in and around Kohima and suggested building a dam along the Sanuoru river stream in North Kohima for firefighting purposes.
