No ad-hoc measures and response will be as effective and smooth unless we adopt a sound planning and pre-preparedness measures to mitigate the disaster, stated Chief Secretary, B.K. Agarwal while presiding over the orientation and co-ordination conference on sensitization programme on Incident Response System (IRS), here today.The meeting also served as a stage for planning and pre-preparedness of the mega mock drill on disaster to be held on 11 July, 2019 across the state. The observers during the mega mock drill will be from Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), CRPF, CISF and ITBP and one column from their units will also participate in the mock drill in their respective districts, including NGOs and Youth Clubs. The Chief Secretary said that we should overcome the shortcomings and have a clear pre-defined Chain of Command and supervision of response activity, adding that the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and the District Management Disaster Authority (DDMA) should conduct quarterly meetings to access the preparedness by stakeholder departments to mitigate disasters. The proceedings of the meetings held by DDMAs should be sent to the SDMA, besides, the SDMA should give all type of intellectual support to the DDMAs as well, he said.Command, Operations, Logistics, Planning, Finance and Administration are the key to disaster preparedness and Incident Response System (IRS), which helps in providing a systematic, proactive approach and guidance to the stake holder departments and agencies at all level of government, private sector and NGOs to work flawlessly, he said adding that in case of disaster, the private service providers and private resources should also be mobilized.He said that the SDMA should amply invest on creation of infrastructure and more assets simultaneously. “It becomes almost impossible during the occurrence of the disaster to provide shelter to the people and hence the need of the hour is to work upon this sincerely. The sewage and sanitation facilities should be temporarily set up. Creation of assets is more important", he stressed.
The Chief Secretary directed the SDMA for documentation/a reference book on the analogy of the ‘Blue Book’ with all essential information and give it an adequate name and ensure to make it available till the Tehsil level.Shri Agarwal issued directions to install I-SAT and V-SATs sets in remote and vulnerable parts of the district for communication apart from headquarters and at sub-division level. He also directed for purchase of around 80 Ham-Radios for each development block, as it has the potential to be an immensely useful disaster management tool especially during earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones etc. when all other communication system gets collapsed in a blink of eye. The persons should be trained in using Ham-radios, he said.He also issued necessary directions to hire the services of professional para-gliders, trekkers, mountaineers for further relief and rescue operations. In order to handle the relief material the divisional commissioner, Kangra, Mandi and Shimla would be Nodal Officers.Principal Secretary (Revenue), Onkar Sharma stressed upon the need for participation of all the line departments in the Mega Mock Drill. He said that the different scenarios pertaining to the drill would be given by SDMA to all the DDMAs. He also seconded the Chief Secretary for including Disaster Management capsule course for Panchayat Pradhans and all concerned departments in workshops at HIPA, Shimla. He also stressed the need for the Command Post at disaster sites, which would serve as the base supervisory camp.Maj. Gen. (Retd) Dr. V.K. Naik, who is also a senior consultant with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), gave a detailed presentation of the IRS. He said that areas most vulnerable to disasters should be identified and also stressed for Incident Command Posts at district level. The Chain of command should be clear to all the departments, the Deputy Commissioners and down the line officials and officers at the time of disasters, he said.Director-cum-Special Secretary SDMA and Revenue, D.C Rana gave an overall presentation of the IRS system and responsibilities of the departments during disaster. He said that table top exercise will be conducted from the state secretariat with all state level officers besides the officers from NDRF, Army, Air force and para-military will also participate in it on 10 July, 2019. Representatives from, Army, Air-force, Para-military forces, Deputy Commissioners, senior police and civil officers were also present on the occasion.