PCMC plans to spend Rs 56 lakh to deploy 50 volunteers for monsoon emergency response for five months

Pune: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is set to deploy 50 volunteers during the monsoon to strengthen its disaster response system, with a proposed budget of Rs 56 lakh for the five-month initiative. A proposal for the expenditure has been submitted to the standing committee and is expected to be discussed on Wednesday, civic officials said.According to the officials, the volunteers will be recruited from certified fire brigade personnel, civil defence volunteers and Aapda Mitras (community-based volunteers). Each volunteer will receive a monthly honorarium of Rs 22,485 for five months and will be deployed at various ward offices, integrated into PCMC’s disaster management network to help respond to monsoon emergencies.The officials said the initiative was successfully deployed on a pilot basis last year, when 30 volunteers were deployed alongside the fire brigade. “Last year, the volunteers worked with the fire brigade. This year, they will be attached to the disaster management department’s Quick Response Teams and will coordinate closely with ward offices during emergencies,” a senior PCMC official said.The official said although the appointments were scheduled to begin on June 1, the process was delayed due to the model code of conduct for MLC polls. “The volunteers will not take part in high-risk rescue operations. Instead, they will assist trained municipal staff in responding to emergency calls, managing situations on the ground and supporting relief efforts during heavy rain and related incidents. Given the manpower shortage during the monsoon and the increase in emergency calls, these volunteers will enhance our disaster response capabilities and help civic teams deal with crises more effectively,” another PCMC official said.Tanaji Narale, assistant municipal commissioner, said the move aligned with Centre’s guidelines for monsoon disaster preparedness. “The proposal to appoint 50 volunteers has been cleared by the law committee and is now before the standing committee for final approval,” Narale said.