This year, the budgetary allocation for the department was Rs 32 crore but in the last three months, not a single paisa has been spent on any new project. “The little spending being done here and there was from the budgetary funds of last year. This financial year, no project has been initiated so far. Everybody seems to be so casual,” an official at the department said.

Immediately after the Stephen Court tragedy, CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had convened a meeting and a project worth Rs 16 crore for buying new equipment was prepared. Three months after the constitution of the committee, the Directorate of Fire Services is yet to prepare tender documents for inviting bids. It said it needed somebody with technical expertise who could help prepare the tender documents. The department is now going to hire a university professor for help.

Third, the 13th Finance commission has allocated Rs 425 crore for 2011-2012 for upgrade and expansion of the fire department but so far, not a single project has been prepared that could be sent to the central government for approval so that the money could be availed of. “Even though there is still time, preparing schemes for projects is so time-consuming and needs sincere attention. Nobody seems to have any interest. If the schemes are not submitted in time, the money will not be released by the central government,” the official said.