Early Times Report
JAMMU, May 30: The State Executive Committee (SEC) of the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction (DMRRR), chaired by Chief Secretary Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, reviewed proposals related to the allocation of funds and capacity building initiatives. The committee approved the allocation of Rs 28 crores from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to Deputy Commissioners and two Divisional Commissioners for their expenditure in the current financial year. To enhance disaster response capabilities, the SEC also sanctioned the procurement of rescue equipment, including excavators, fire-fighting equipment, signal units, and drones, at an estimated cost of Rs 8.91 crores, to be funded through the SDRF. In a concerted effort to strengthen capacity building, collaborative initiatives will be undertaken with the SDRF 1st and 2nd Battalion across all districts of J&K, focusing on creating awareness among the public about effective disaster management practices. To facilitate training and capacity building programs, the SEC allocated Rs 50 lakhs from the current financial year's budget (2023-24) to the Department of DMRRR. Considering the communication requirements during natural disasters or emergencies, the SEC approved the utilization of 400 satellite phones for the upcoming Shri Amarnathji Yatra. Additionally, the committee sanctioned Rs 6 lakhs for conducting mock exercises, with Rs 2 lakhs each allocated to the Deputy Commissioners of Anantnag and Ganderbal from the SDRF to support these exercises during the current financial year. Furthermore, Chief Secretary Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta proposed reinforcing the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) in preparation for the Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2023. The suggestion included convergence with the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) and the Incident Management and Tracking System (IMTS) to optimize government facilities and ensure efficient and coordinated emergency response.
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