The representation was placed before Director-General of Civil Defence M K Shukla and fire fighting advisor to the Home Ministry Omprakash Gupta during their visit to the city on Thursday.

Vyas said that in view of the proximity of large industrial units to Vadodara, the city could be developed as a model for fire-fighting services. She added that the rural services, too, needed to be improved.

In his representation, Standing Committee chairman N V Patel demanded that facilities be upgraded at the Harni airport so that flights did not face a problem landing at night.

National president of the All-India Institute of Local Self-Government Jatin Modi said that currently 60 Scheduled Tribe members, including seven girls, were undergoing training in the Fire Academy of Vadodara. He alleged that because of the several State Governments -- including that of Gujarat -- grants of crores of rupees given by the Centre had lapsed.

Replying to the representation, Shukla said if proposals from Gujarat came up in the 11th Finance Committee, grants for developing fire-fighting services would be increased.