Kerala becomes first state to have DMA

Thiruvananthapuram, May 9 (UNI) Kerala becomes the first state in the country to constitute a Disaster Management Authority (DMA), which would be framing a disaster management policy for the State to identify disaster-prone areas and co-ordinate the activities of the various departments under management.

Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today inaugurated the Disaster Management Authority (DMA) here and said a training institute for disaster management, of international standards, would be established under the Authority.

The State DMA had been constituted as stipulated in the National Disaster Management Authority Act of 2005 with the Chief Minister as Chairman and the Revenue Minister as Vice-chairman.

Apart from the Chief Minister and the Revenue Minister, the Authority will have officials, scientists and experts as its members. A State-level executive committee, District Disaster Management Authorities and several Advisory Committees would also be set up.

Rapid action forces would be set up at district-level to implement measures to eliminate and mitigate both natural and man-made disasters.

State Revenue Minister K P Rajendran said DMA would help in co-ordinating the Police, Fire Force and Revenue Departments at the time of urgency.

UNI