Water Wing Civil Defence (WWCD)

       In the year 1978 parts of Bengal  had witnessed devastating flood. The State received 332 speed boats and OBMs from Govt. of India as donated by the European Economic Countries. These boats were utilised for the rescue and relief operation for the flood affected people. With these boats the Civil Defence Organisation , West Bengal  opened new Water Wing Organisation. 

Recruitment started from June, 1980.

2. STRENGTH :Together 539 posts sanctioned comprising of 1  Commandant, 1 Dy. Commandant, 2 Company Commanders,  8 Asstt. Company Commanders, 25 Platoon Commanders and 484 Agrami Operators. In addition there are Technical Supervisor- 1, Foremen-2, Mechanics-12, Accountant-1, LDC-1 and Peon-1.

3.NATURE OF DUTY :The personnel  of Water Wing Civil Defence (WWCD) undertook a number of rescue and relief operation in flood prone districts of West Bengal. In 1981 they undertook the same duties in Orissa. They rescued  the students of Artificial Limb Manufacturing Corporation  Ltd. from their hostel , near Cuttack, at mid night. This was highly appreciated by the Orissa Govt. During the years 1983-86 the WWCD personnel  performed rescue and relief operation during flood in Assam.Every  year they performed duties in GangasagarMela to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims during their holly bath in the Bay of Bengal. The people in general still remember the rescue and salvage work by the personnel of this Organisation when launch ‘Ma Avaya’ capsized  in the year 1994, accident of trawler ‘Ma Sarojini’ in the year 1995.  In addition WWCD take part in Swimming competition  during Gangotsav at Diamond Harbour, Murshidabad utsavat Berhampur, perform duties during immersion of Goddess Durga & Kali at Kolkata, immersion of Goddess Jagadhatri at Chandannagore&Rishra, Rathajatra at Serampur, Mahesh &Guptipara and Rashjatra  atNabadweep. They also perform similar duties in North & South 24-Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly districts. Apart from water related rescue and salvage duties they performed rescue and relief  duties  at Entallyt&Tangra area in Kolkata during the Riots of 1992, during the Train accident at Lake Gardens Station, the collapse of Kundalia buildings at Collins Lane in 1993, the collapse of Sibalik Apartment in 1995 and during the Bomb explosion at Bowbazar in 1993. In  August, 1995 the WWCD were placed into service with a boat capsized in Damodar at Majila, Purulia with a large number of boarders. Their services were appreciated by the local authorities and the people. The WWCD performed rescue operation from July to October, 1995 in the flood prone area at Labhpur and rescued a large number of flood affected people and shifted them to flood centres by speed boats. They were also engaged to carry and distributed the relief materials to the affected people.They also engaged in Wireless transmission duty of flood warning message through various R.T. stations in Jalpaiguri & Cooch Behar districts under the Irrigation Deptt.  The WWCD personnel imparted training to the members of Meghalaya Police, Excise Deptt. and Rapid Action Force on rescue operation.A mechanised boat with 100 passengers capsized in the river near Kakdweep in October,  1995, the WWCD personnel carried out search and rescue operation and recovered dead bodies near Ghoramarachar of Bay of Bengal putting their lives at great risk. Polling booth duties  are also  performed by the personnel  during the elections.

      The WWCD personnel with boats and OBMs are deployed during monsoon from June to October to defend flood prone districts of West Bengal

      Apart from this the WWCD personnel are kept stand-by at Kolkata to meet water related disaster like situation in Kolkata and its surrounding areas.

      Presently WWCD  is having its HQrs. at 81/2/2, Phears Lane, Kolkata-12, 2) Operational HQrs. at Lake Complex and  3)Workshop at Beliaghata. Obviously this creates  operational  and administrative problem .  Considering this problem we moved Govt. with proposal for construction of WWCD building. The Govt. of West Bengal in Civil Defence Deptt.approved and sanctioned Rs. 4 crores for construction for construction of WWCD building under State Plan. The Construction work is going on at WBNVF training Centre, Kalyani having G+3 . This building will come up by the end of this year. The entire establishment of WWCD will be shifted in one roof and operational and command control problem being faced presently will be addressed.

NEED FOR MODERNISATION:Presently WWCD has the following number of Boats and OBMs :

 As on 16.07.2013

SL. NO.	NAME OF THE STORES	TOTAL STOCK OF INF BOATS/ALMN. BOATs/OBMs	ALREADY DEPLOYED	PRESENT STOCK	SERVICEABLE ON PRESENT STOCK	UNSERVICEABLE ON PRESENT STOCK
01	WWCD	INF=60+32 OBMs=60	48 49	44 11	28 06	16 05

      All the boats and OBMs have been purchased  under State Plan. The Govt. of West Bengal under its State Plan sanctioned Rs. 2.14 crores for purchasing of Fibre Glass Boats with OBMs and Trawlers. The WWCD need modern equipments for under- taking search,  rescue,  evacuation etc. during water related disaster.  The WWCD needs some vehicles including i) Trucks for carrying boats, ii) Buses for movement of WWCD personnel, iii) Ambulances for rescue operation and iv) small vehicle at least 5 nos. for movement of Senior Officers.

       There is need for providing better training to the WWCD personnel. A proposal has been initiated to get of few men of WWCD trained  in Scuba diving by the Sea Explorers’ Institute  and  it is  necessary  such  training course.