The Bengal fire and emergency department has asked the Kalimpong district administration to evaluate proposals to set up fire stations at three more places.

Sources said the fire stations were proposed at Gorubathan, Jaldhaka and Algarah.

It is learnt that the principal secretary of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) had first proposed a station on the Upper Fagu tea estate in Gorubathan, about 80km from Kalimpong, but the plot was found unsuitable.

“After that, another stretch of land has been identified at Pankhasari and it has been taken over by the fire and emergency department following the clearance of the land and land reforms department,” said an official source.

The Kalimpong superintendent of police mooted a proposal to establish a fire station at Jholung in Jhaldhaka, about 110km from Kalimpong. “However, no land has been identified for this project,” said a source in the department.

The third proposal is to set up a fire station at Algarah, about 15km from Kalimpong, and a piece of land has been identified in the Pinegoan forest block.

“The department has requested the district administration to evaluate the requirement of the fire station at each place and submit a report explaining which one should get priority over the other," said the official.

The district has currently only one fire station which is in Kalimpong.