VMC to deploy 200 contract swimmers for monsoon rescue operations
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.
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