Discernible progress

02/12/2017

Despite being aware of the fact that Jammu and Kashmir has a long history of disasters and is still prone to natural calamities, several Government departments are soft-paddling on implementation of key decisions of State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) headed by Chief Minister. Moreover, there is no proper liaison between the Authority and the departments, which otherwise is imperative for taking adequate disaster mitigation measures in a time bound manner. The State Disaster Management Authority in its 6th meeting held under the chairpersonship of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti deliberated upon various aspects of disaster mitigation and the role required to be played by the Government departments.In the meeting, Chief Minister approved a token amount of Rs 25 crore as State Disaster Mitigation Fund and it was decided that an amount of Rs 1 crore will be placed at the disposal of each Deputy Commissioner for utilization under District Disaster Mitigation Fund. It was explicitly stated in the meeting that 50% of the funds will be utilized by the Deputy Commissioners for critical rescue equipments, 20% for capacity building, 20% for innovative projects involving community based disaster preparedness projects and 10% for IEC activities.In the meeting it was also decided that Health and Medical Education Department will conduct risk assessment of medical and trauma care facilities to minimize damages in the event of disasters but there is no discernible progress in this regard till date. Pointing towards the decision of SDMA regarding creation of two additional battalions of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the in-principle approval to the proposal of Additional Director General of Police, Civil Defence, Home Guards and SDRF in the meeting held on August 16, 2017 the Finance Department was approached for concurrence keeping in view the fact that huge funds are required for translating this decision into reality”.
However, the Finance Department has yet not conveyed its decision. “The constraints of the funds may lead to further delay in arriving at any decision by the Finance Department. They further informed that even Roads and Buildings and Power Development Departments have yet not completed the task assigned by the Chief Minister while chairing the SDMA meeting.Similarly, there is no discernible progress on satellite linking of the cellular telephone towers so as to ensure uninterrupted communication during any disaster although the matter was discussed by the Principal Secretary Home Department with the cellular service providers.

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