What kind of restructuring is needed for disaster management?
Answers
The Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi Government has proposed to restructure the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on lines of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and have a full-time CEO, consultants, "exclusive" response force and experts to deal with disasters effectively.
The revenue department has sent a proposal to Delhi Minister Kailash Gahlot to restructure the DDMA chaired by the Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal. According to DDMA's website, the chief minister is the vice-chairman while chief secretary is also the CEO. The DDMA currently comes under the revenue department headed by Gahlot.
As per the proposal, DDMA will have separate secretariat once the proposal gets nods from the government. DDMA does not have a permanent office building in the city till now.
An official said DDMA will be restructured on the lines of National Disaster Management chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "If the proposal is approved, the new DDMA will have a full-time CEO, eight consultants and experts," he said.
He said DDMA facing staff shortage needs more attention to effectively tackle disaster. At present, DDA focuses on immediate relief whenever there is disaster, but there is also need for prevention.
"Disaster management authorities in several States have commissioners,
CEO and teams of experts. The department has sent the file to the revenue minister," the official said.
The official said department has also proposed to appoint state's exclusive disaster response team in every district of the national Capital.
"In every district, there will be division of DDMA, which will have a proper team to respond any emergency. As per the plan, the role of civil defence volunteers in DDMA will also be redefined," official said.