Tehsil officers, Panchayats to be authorized for better results
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Sept 20: The Administration has chalked out the Disaster Management Plan for the Srinagar district which has pitched for several preventive measures especially, a regulatory framework to prevent unregulated constructions as well as retrofitting of public buildings situated in vulnerable areas.
In this regard, the authorities have formulated the District Disaster Management Action Plan (2022-2023) Srinagar which has stated that there has to be a regulatory framework in place which would discourage construction activity in areas vulnerable to the impact of earthquakes and other disasters like floods, landslides.
As per the document, the Disaster Management plan shall be integrated with all development plans of the district, and it shall be made mandatory to incorporate disaster resistant technology in all the construction designs.
The plan said that the public buildings are being identified which are prone to be damaged due to earthquake and the same will include a list of schools, hospitals, colleges and courts that requires retrofitting for which the estimates shall be framed for effecting necessary repairs and reinforcements in the said buildings.
As per the plan, once the Geological map of District Srinagar is ready, “the Tehsil / Block Officers and even Panchayats would be given authority to deal with unplanned construction activity.”
Further, it has been made mandatory to seek building permission from the concerned Government offices / Panchayat bodies, which, the plan said, would arrest uncontrolled and haphazard construction of houses and that too in risk-prone areas. “Enforcement of laws is important in this regard to not allow people to settle in susceptible areas,” the document stated.
The authorities are also planning to conduct the risk assessment and vulnerability analysis in Srinagar area which is prone to natural disasters and the same shall be demarcated.
“The plan is to identify disaster-prone and vulnerable areas in Srinagar district so that residential colonies are raised at safe locations and people living in risk-prone areas are rehabilitated elsewhere,” the plan mentioned.
In this regard, the authorities are also planning to involve the Geology & Mining Department in the identification of vulnerable areas which will also prepare a geological map that would delineate areas in district Srinagar that can be exposed to the impact of strong earthquakes and other natural disasters.
Under the plan, the departments have been asked to come up with their own Disaster Management Plans, which, it said, would make the role of line departments more lucid.
The exercise for constitution of the Tehsil-Level Committee of officers has been made which will implement Disaster Management Plan, and coordinate activities at the Tehsil Level. As per the plan, they shall represent key departments and will also be responsible for operationalizing the Control Room at Tehsil Level during emergencies.
Further, it has been given out that the District has its Disaster Management plan ready and that the same shall be open to reviews and feedback from experts to make the plan comprehensive and useful.
Follow our WhatsApp channel