HP govt to adopt National Disaster Management Act

Shimla, Dec 18 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh which is prone to natural disasters and falls in Seismic Zone V has decided to adopt the National Disaster Management Act with modifications .

The state government has alreadys taken steps to implement disater management rules and the first step in this direction is to re-desginate the Department of Relief and Rehabilitation as Disaster Management Department to focus on mitigation and vulnerability reduction.

According to an official spokesman here today, National Disaster Management Act which has recently been notified by the centre would be adopted by the state government with modifications. The government would also notify the Disaster Management Authority at the state level.

Similar authorities will also be set up at the district-level as well, the spokesman added. The State and District Disaster Management plans are also in the process of finalisation which would consist of term mitigation measures as well as short term emergency responses.

Control Rooms have been set up in all the districts and the state capital with free toll numbers to receive reports of the occurrence of disasters, the spokesman added.

Integral to the plans for national preparedness for responses is the creation of the eight battalions of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) which is being trained and equipped for search and Rescue (SAR) operations in the event of disasters. The battalions have been located, after due vulnerability analysis, at or in close proximity to Chandigarh, Delhi, Guwahati, Kolkatta, Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Pune and Ahmedabad.

The spokesman said the facets of relief planned to be covered are temporary shelter and tentage, basic living pre-requisites, food and water, medical aid including medicines, hygiene and sanitation, lighting and power, communications and logistic requirements for delivery of relief. Relief material for 25,000 persons will be stocked at each location notified by the government for relief, he added.

The planned stocks will cater for provision of immediate relief to a total of 300,000 affected persons commencing, the spokesman added.

UNI XC HS PA VV1710