Gurgaon to get District Disaster Management Authority

Chandigarh, Nov 30 (UNI) After experiencing an earthquake measuring 4.3 on Richter scale on November 26, Gurgaon is all set to have a District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).

A meeting for constituting such an Authority has been called on December 4 at Gurgaon, an official spokesman said here today.

The government had decided to constitute a Disaster Management Authority in every district of the state, he said.

The government had also issued notification in this regard, nominating each Deputy Commissioner as ex-officio chairman of the proposed Authority. The Chairman of Zila Parishad will be Co- Chairman and the Additional Deputy Commissioner will be ex-officio Chief Executive Officer in the Authority.

The Superintendent of Police of the respective district would be ex-officio member of the DDMA but in case of Gurgaon district Deputy Commissioner Police (HQ) will serve the purpose. Other members include Civil Surgeon, Superintendenting Engineer of PWD ( B&R) and District Revenue and Disaster Management Officer posted in the district.

The DDMA will consist of seven members including the Chairman.

He said the headquarter of the DDMA would be set up at the district headquarter and a meeting at least once in a year has been made mandatory.

The Authority would ensure preparation of District Response Plan and Disaster management Plan. It would monitor and ensure proper implementation of national and state disaster management plans in the district and would identify the quake prone areas.

It would devise ways and means to minimise the losses in the event of natural calamity like that of earthquake by striking co-ordination between various departments.

He said the DDMA would provide technical help and advice for effective management of activities before and after the calamity.

It would identify such open places and buildings which can used for relief camps and as shelter houses for calamity victims.

It would also enlist the NGOs and other social organisations in the district and motivate them to play pro-active role in disaster management programme.

The DDMA could constitute one or more committees as per requirement and pay remuneration for assistance provided by any specialist to the Authority according to the government guidelines, he added.

UNI