Chief Secretary, B B Vyas Thursday chaired a meeting of the State Executive Committee (SEC) of State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA).Financial Commissioner, Housing & Urban Development, Principal Secretary, Home, Principal Secretary Health & Medical Education, Commandant General, CD, HG & SDRF, J&K, Administrative Secretaries of the departments of Revenue, PDD, PW (R&B), PHE and I&FC and DMRR&R, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Director Fire & Emergency Services and other senior officers participated in the meeting. Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir participated through video conferencing.Chief Secretary reviewed the action taken on the decisions of the previous SEC meeting held on 28th August, 2017.It was informed that District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) in collaboration with Civil Defence and SDRF have been conducting several community based disaster response preparedness programmes across all districts besides district wise inventory of resources including infrastructure, trained manpower & equipment/machinery available has been prepared.In regard to procurement of rescue equipment including boats, rafts, tents, life jackets, life buoys, satellite phones, wireless sets, snow cutter machines, high capacity dewatering pumps, heavy duty generators etc, it was informed that necessary funds for the purpose have been released to the concerned departments and the process of procurement in many cases is at its advanced stage.
An amount of Rs 5 crore as additionality was also approved for release to Commandant General, SDRF for procurement of the rescue equipment. Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir informed that over 52000 blankets have already been procured under PMRF.In regard to flood mitigation preparedness and response plan, Chief Secretary asked Secretary PHE and I&FC to have an outcome analysis of the dredging work of River Jhelum got conducted by an expert besides expediting the completion and submission of the mathematical modelling report on river Jhelum.Principal Secretary, Health & Medical Education informed that department has already conducted risk assessment of medical and trauma care facilities across all districts besides district wise health related disaster management plans have been prepared. He said necessary training to deal with disaster like situations has also been imparted to the medical staff.
Chief Secretary urged both the Divisional Commissioner’s to review the disaster preparedness plans with the DCs, Director Health Services and other concerned officers to certify their operational aspects in the event of a disaster like situation.In regard to Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs), it was informed that 50 Kanal land at Humhama Srinagar stands already transferred to the department DMRR&R. Moreover, land in 11 other districts of Kashmir division has been identified and papers have been forwarded to the office of the Financial Commissioner, Revenue by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir. Divisional Commissioner, Jammu was asked to expedite identification of land for the purpose in Jammu division also.Directions were also issued in regard to various other important issues viz strengthening SDMA and DDMAs, State Disaster Response Force and weather forecasts.The SEC approved an amount of Rs 15 Crore for meeting the expenses on account of notified natural calamities, to be kept at the disposal of Financial Commissioner (2 Crore), Divisional Commissioners (1 Crore each) and Deputy Commissioners (50 Lakh each).The SEC also discussed and approved payment of relief under SDRF norms, on account of various claims arising due to natural disasters in various districts.