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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nNew Delhi: <\/span>To address manpower shortages in Delhi Fire Service (DFS), Delhi govt is considering engaging former Agniveers to fill operational posts.The proposal was discussed at a Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) meeting on Monday, chaired by TS Sandhu, days after the south Delhi fire that claimed 22 lives. Sandhu suggested exploring the engagement of ex-Agniveers to bridge staffing gaps in firefighting roles.Chief minister Rekha Gupta, home minister Ashish Sood, PWD minister Parvesh Verma and senior officials from police and various departments attended the meeting at Lok Niwas.\u201cTo strengthen the fire department\u2019s workforce, suggested exploring the engagement of ex-Agniveers to address existing vacancies. Directed teams constituted last week to submit their action-taken reports (ATRs) in a time-bound manner,\u201d Sandhu said in a post on X.Officials said the meeting also discussed ways to strengthen fire services, improve citizen oversight and fill vacancies.Agniveers are recruited under the Agnipath scheme and serve in the armed forces for four years.An official said that after the suggestion from the LG, the govt will work out the modalities for the engagement of the ex-Agniveers as fire-fighters such as required training and terms of engagement.Last month TOI reported that the Delhi fire services is facing a serious manpower crunch. Of the sanctioned 3,633 posts, 1,030 are vacant, while 412 are filled by contractual staff. In the fire operator category \u2014 critical to operations \u2014 552 posts are vacant out of 2,367. The department has engaged 312 contractual fire operators. Recruitment was last conducted in 2011-12.The meeting also reviewed plans to increase the number of fire stations to improve response times. DFS currently operates 71 stations \u2014 67 regular and four daytime stations. A 2011 home ministry-commissioned study estimated that Delhi would need 99 fire stations.In the meeting Sood suggested that Delhi should enforce Section 32 of the Delhi Fire Services Act, 2007, which provides for applying fire prevention and fire safety measures to all multi-storey buildings in the Capital, irrespective of whether they require a fire safety certificate under the Act.At present, buildings above 15 metres require a fire safety no-objection certificate from DFS. \u201cThe move will expand the ambit of fire safety enforcement and ensuring that basic fire prevention measures are adopted across all multi-storey structures to enhance public safety,\u201d said an official.<\/div>\n