Director General of Telangana Vigilance and Enforcement department Rajiv Ratan, whose sudden demise on April 9 shocked the police fraternity and his well wishers, was in the limelight of late due to the ongoing probe into irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, but he did make a mark for himself in terms of other works assigned by the Government.
While he held many significant posts, his stint as the Director General of TS Disaster Response and Fire Services department, for over three years from 2015, was particularly notable because of the sweeping changes he had brought about in its functioning, bringing the agency closer to the public with digital access and ensuring the Fire Safety Act was implemented in its true spirit.
Ratan did not think of it as a “non-focal” posting as he began addressing the changes as soon as he took charge by laying down the standard operating procedures for fire-fighting so that the response time for any fire mishap was reduced, through coordination with local police, traffic police and others to ensure a ‘green channel’.
