Lt Governor reviews Delhi's disaster preparedness measures

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, Jul 12 (UNI) Delhi Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna today emphasised the need to strengthen coordination between various departments to reduce risk and impact of disasters.

He also stressed the need to ensure that building safety codes are followed by builders, architects and engineers.

In a meeting to review the initiatives and preparedness measures undertaken by Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Mr Khanna said,''Disaster could be natural or manmade and if it strikes Delhi it will have tremendous impact. We have to be ready with immediate response, rehabilitation and subsequent reconstruction phase plans and capability to handle it,'' he said.

He asked the MCD Commissioner to ensure that these provisions find a place in the MCD Act and Building Bylaws in a time bound manner.

The Lt Governor expressed satisfaction OVER the good work done in terms of preparation of Disaster Management Plan at different levels but suggested that all the plans have to be put in practice and checked for efficiency and effective implementation.

Mr Khanna asked the GOC to initiate mock Disaster- Response drills in any of the nine districts and monitor the actual ground level response.

He said this would facilitate independent audit of the preparedness and deficiencies of the plan put in place by different authorities.

The meeting was attended among others, by General Officer Commanding, Northern Command, Maj Gen K J S Oberoi, Delhi Chief Secretary Ramesh Narayanswami, Principal Secretary (Home) Shumsher Sheriff, Divisional Commissioner Rakesh Behari, Dir-Gen Civil Defence&Home Guard Neeraj Kumar, Chief Fire Officer R C Sharma, Commissioner, MCD, Ashok Kumar Nigam, Chairman, NDMC, Parimal Rai, DMRC Managing Director, E. Shreedharan.

Deputy Commissioners of nine districts and senior officials of other departments and Prof Arya, National Seismic Advisor and representatives of NGOs were also present.

In his presentation, the Principal Secretary, Revenue, the nodal officer for Disaster Management in Delhi stressed upon the need to strengthen the coordination between various departments to reduce risk and impact of various disasters and enhance the capacity of the service providers like hospitals, fire department Civil Defence.

He also emphasised on long-term plans for retrofitting of lifeline buildings. He said that a number of drills had been carried out involving various agencies and the nine DCs and their staff.

The Chief Fire officer drew the attention of the participants towards preparations of disaster management plans for the unauthorised colonies, which suffer from lack of proper accessibility in case of any emergency due to narrow lanes poor quality construction, etc.

The officer expressed that more attention be paid to these areas and certain measures be put in place to reduce their vulnerability .

Participants also expressed that there was a need to involve the NGOs and ensure that women get due representation at all levels including Rapid Action Forces.

The next plenary meeting of the Disaster Preparedness Review Forum will take place in January 2008.

UNI

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