Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 15: Government today admitted that the Jammu and Kashmir is multi-hazard State prone to both the natural and manmade disasters and said multiple steps are being taken in view of the alarming situation.
“The Valley falls in most severe seismic zone-V and the rest of the State falls in Zone-IV. The frequency of tremors has increased in recent past which has been alarming,” said Minister Incharge Relief and Rehabilitation, Basharat Bukhari, in Upper House while replying to a question of Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Ajatshatru Singh.
The Minister said the State Government is quite aware of the alarm and its focus has increased manifolds towards disaster management.
“The State Government in pursuance to Disaster Management Act – 2005 has issued Disaster Management Rules. A State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), State Executive Committee (SEC) and the District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMA) have been constituted,” he informed the House.
The Minister said the State Government has decided to constitute two fully equipped Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs) at Srinagar and Jammu for which the process of identification of suitable land is underway.
“The Divisional Commissioners of both Divisions have been asked to identify suitable accessible elevated land with already built up accommodation for housing EOCs for short term basis and to arrange for the trained man power to man these EOCs by way of internal adjustment from various State Government departments,” he said.
At present, the Police Control Rooms at divisional levels and district PCRs at district levels are playing an important role in emergency response during disasters, the Minister said. Besides, he said, the Deputy Commissioners are under instructions to establish permanent EOCs at district levels and furnish minimum requirements for operationalizing such District EOCS.
The Minister said that a comprehensive SDMP has been formulated by Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai and approved by SDMA for its implementation on ground. “The plan is big step towards a safe and disaster resilient State…,” he informed. The Minister said that awareness campaigns have been launched on Disaster Mitigation, prevention and preparedness as part of overall disaster risk management strategy with the financial support of NDMA.
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