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| Late but never lost: 18 months run finally gets state DMA | | |
Sanjay Khajuria
Jammu July 6
It took almost over eighteen months to the Jammu and Kashmir government to frame rules for the state Disaster Management Authority (DMA) for responding to natural disasters after the devastating earthquake which hit the state in October 2005 with the snow tsunami freezing the state early in the same year.
State government in a meeting held in Srinagar in April last after deliberating upon the resulted loss of the precious human lives and huge loss of the property, private and government as well, chalked out the necessary guidelines.
It is to mention though the Parliament passed a Disaster Management Act on December 26, 2005, following Tsunami in South India, followed by Snow Tsunami in Kashmir in 2005 and then Earthquake rattling in October 8, 2005; but the exemplary ‘work culture’ in state forced the state government to take almost 18 months to frame the necessary rules and guidelines.
However, the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad too had underlined on December 28, 2005 the need to bring legislation in the next assembly session. ‘Till the Disaster Management Authority Act was enacted, the authority would be set up through an executive order, he said. He also said that 15 villages comprising in Tangdhar and Uri had to be relocated for which land in Teetwal, Bagh Bela, Tangdhar and Boniyar had been identified to meet the emergency situation and to manage the post disaster scenario.
During a high level meeting in this regard the participating members in April 2007 discussed issues related to revenue, relief and rehabilitation department and their pros and cons were measured. Experts also put forth the topographical and geographical locations of the state on the global map which also stresses the case of the state for more planned and focus disaster management strategies to shield the mankind against the blow of the natural or man made catastrophes/calamities.
Sources informed that as per the powers conferred by section 78 of the ‘Disaster Management Act, 2005 (Act No. 53 of 2005), the Chief Minister of the State will be the ex-officio chairperson of the DMA which will have the cabinet ministers for Revenue, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Public Works Department, Transport, Health and Medical Education, Power and the Chief Secretary of the state as its members.
The Chief Secretary will also be holding the chair of the ‘ex-officio chief executive officer (CEO) of the said DMA. Sources also mentioned that the deputy chief minister (if there will be) would be the vice-chairperson but the chairperson has been entrusted with the responsibility so that he/she may nominate any other member to the office in case there is no deputy chief minister.
Meanwhile the members of the State Executive Committee of the DMA shall comprise the Chief Secretary as the 'Chairperson’ and the Secretary to Government, Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Secretary to Government, Public Works (R&B); Secretary to Government, H&ME as members shall assist the state authority 'in performance of its functions and coordinate action in case of any eventuality. And the state executive committee will be coordinated through its sub committees headed by the District Commissioners. According to the rules, the DMA shall meet at least once a year in normal circumstances but can be summoned by the Chief Minister at any time and place as he may deem fit.
The rules provide for the authority to constitute an advisory committee consisting of persons with practical experience in disaster management from within or outside the state to make recommendations on different aspects.
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