The National Disaster Management Authority had several years back drawn the attention of the State towards the need to create Emergency Operation Centers in all the districts of the State and equip these with necessary paraphernalia so that any sudden disaster could be managed and damages could be reduced. However, State authorities initially adopted a lackadaisical attitude and finally decided to create atleast four Emergency Operation Centers in four district headquarters namely Jammu, Srinagar, Kargil and Leh.
Tracing the history of how the State administration handled the issue, it is clear that the subject matter though of much importance was handled almost casually as if the task was thrust on the State Government. Authorities at no stage showed seriousness to grapple with the issue and foresee the dimension of disaster which any natural calamity could cause and in controlling which the State authorities would become helpless. In short the authorities concerned ignored the directions of the National Disaster Management Authority, and also the warning of the Executive Committee which had strongly advised to begin the task of constituting at least four Emergency Operation Centers. Two crore rupees sanctioned for each EOC were released at the fag end of the year though the task of setting up the committees was scheduled to have been completed before the year ended.
Entire issue of creating viable and effective State Disaster Management Plan has never been given the seriousness it deserved. Nor have the consequences of neglecting the task even been taken into account. Looking in retrospect, one will say that had even fifty per cent of the total plan been implemented, perhaps Srinagar city would not have met with the disaster that has now befallen it in the course of flash floods. The entire Disaster Management Plan has got mired in red tape. Let us recall that other States, too, have formed their respective Disaster Management Plan and are adhering strictly to it. Gujarat and Assam could be cited by way of example. Why did not our state invite tenders from successful and effective contractors who would have assisted the State in planning how to manage the disaster? Look at the type of communication equipment which the above mentioned two states have managed for their respective Emergency Disaster Management Centers. It is an eye opener. The State Government should have realized that being a hilly State with many areas almost inaccessible, it would be extremely difficult to provide any succor to the villages and localities that remain cut off owing to landslides and other physical reasons. General feeling is that the authorities in the State have never envisaged the scope of ravages caused by floods and the aftermath of the entire episode. It will take time to assess the losses, particularly in terms of human lives.
Now that the untold tragedy has befallen, this is not the time to go on drawing a litany of complaints against this or that functionary. The time demands that in the light of previous mistakes of negligence and carelessness, entire issue should be revisited and Disaster Management Plan should be finalized and implemented without loss of time. The State Government should send a team of two senior officials to study the success story of the National Disaster Management Authority in states like Gujarat and Assam and then submit their report about what modifications would be needed in replicating the experiment of these two states. Of course the State is engaged in the difficult task of overcoming the impact of flash floods. Once there is semblance of normalcy, the State Government should whole heartedly address the task of creating emergency centers in districts and equip these with all requisite paraphernalia. The focus has to shift to district headquarters also apart from providing whatever structure is needed for the two capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar.
Follow our WhatsApp channel