A one-man taskforce has recommended to the Bengal government the setting-up of a single window system in Siliguri for processing fire licences so that people in northern parts of the state don't have to travel all way to Calcutta.
The system, a long-standing demand by trade and builders' organisations in the region, will enable the expeditious disposal of applications for fire licences, especially in Siliguri which is developing at a rapid pace.
Udayan Adhikary, a divisional officer of the fire department, had taken into consideration the trade hub's geographical location and easy connectivity with other places before proposing in his report that the system be opened at the Siliguri Fire Station.
The officer had visited Siliguri at the end of April and served show-cause notices on the owners of 80 buildings that did not have proper fire safety measures.
Before leaving for Calcutta to file the report, he had asked the fire force personnel here to keep a close watch on buildings to see whether they were well equipped to prevent and fight fire mishaps.
"If a person in north Bengal has to get fire licences, he needs to make many travels to the Writers' Building for collecting the application forms and then submitting them. A single window system in Siliguri will avoid such arduous journeys," Adhikary said over phone from Calcutta.
Source: The Telegraph 10/July/2008
