AP CM wants to merge fire services and civil defence dept

Hyderabad, Oct 31 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today directed the Fire Services and Civil Defence Department in the State to merge into a State Disaster Management Force which could respond to any type of disaster.

According to a press release here, he presided over a meeting of the State Disaster Management Authority, constituted under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister on January 18 this year.

In the meeting he wanted a final shape to this proposal within 15 days and said that Fire&Emergency Services Department should play a major role in disaster management. Hence it needed to be restructured in tune with the changes in Disaster Management in the State, the release said.

He said the District Fire Services Officer would also work as the State Disaster Management Officer, the release added.

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