Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Sept 17: Taking seriously the observations of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) that present trend of constructions in Jammu and Kashmir is alarming, the State Government has directed the Deputy Commissioners to ensure that new infrastructure comes up strictly in accordance with the guidelines laid down by this autonomous institution. The Government has also signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) for preparation of comprehensive State Disaster Management Plan (SDMA) within next few months.
According to the official sources, the Government has directed the Deputy Commissioners of the major earthquake prone districts particularly those of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban, which witnessed several tremors since May 1, 2013, to ensure that the new infrastructure in the Government as well as private sector comes up in accordance with the recommendations made by the NDMA.
Among other aspects, the NDMA has laid stress on prohibiting unreinforced masonry and retrofitting the existing ones especially critical, lifeline and governance structures with a sense of urgency and rest in a phased manner.
“The Deputy Commissioners will not only organize workshops or adopt other means to communicate the NDMA guidelines to the engineers but also engage some organizations to ensure training to the masons and other skilled workforce being engaged in the construction activities”, sources said. “The Government has asked the Deputy Commissioners of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban to ensure strict compliance to the NDMA guidelines during the reconstruction of infrastructure damaged in May 1 earthquake”, they added.
Sources disclosed that Government has also signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai for preparation of State Disaster Management Plan. “Within days of signing MoU the TISS has submitted preliminary report, which is under consideration of the senior officers of the Revenue Department”, sources said.
By the end of current year the TISS will prepare and submit final State Disaster Management Plan, which will have district-wise components., they said, adding the District Disaster Management Plan, wherever framed, would be further updated in consonance with the State Disaster Management Plan.
In response to a question, sources said, ” the recommendations of the NDMA vis-à-vis capacity building for disaster management has also received due attention of the State Government with the Executive Committee of the SDRF headed by Chief Secretary recently constituting a committee headed by Director General of Police to look into the aspects of purchase of specialized rescue equipment”.
Disclosing that an amount of Rs 18 crore has been earmarked for the purchase of vital equipment and capacity building, sources said, “these equipment would be kept in a facility to be created in each district for prompt action in case of any disaster”, adding “State Disaster Response Force’s two Battalions are also in the dire need of adequate equipment and they would also be benefitted with the capacity building initiative”.
It is pertinent to mention here that the NDMA, which deals with whole spectrum of disaster management and preparedness in the country, carried out detailed analysis of the situation in the aftermath of May 1 earthquake in the erstwhile Doda district on the request of Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Ghulam Nabi Azad before furnishing detailed report to the State Government.
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