NEW DELHI, Sept 29: With the NDRF playing an important role in rescue of disaster-hit people, government has decided to raise two new battalions of the disaster response force.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today that the decision to raise two new battalions (approx 2,000 personnel) of NDRF has been taken realising the role the force has been playing in rescue of disaster-hit people and distributing relief during natural calamities.
The National Disaster Management Authority will be restructured soon so that it can play much bigger role in disaster management activities.
“We have decided to restructure NDMA. It has to be revamped. We have almost completed the revamping and restructuring work,” he said addressing a function organised on the occasion of the foundation day of NDMA.
Singh said the initiative to revamp NDMA has been taken with the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Government has already downgraded the posts of the Vice-Chairman of NDMA from the rank of Union Cabinet Minister to the Cabinet Secretary.
The status of the members of the NDMA has also been reduced from the rank of the Union Minister of State to the Secretary of the Union government.
The Prime Minister is the Chairman of the NDMA.
Referring to the total collapse of communication network during recent floods in Jammu and Kashmir, the Home Minister said a new uninterrupted communication network will be set up in the country for smooth functioning during emergency situation.
“A new mechanism is being developed and we will soon come up with a new uninterrupted communication network,” he said.
In a recent meeting with the Department of Telecommunication, the Home Minister had directed to setup a robust communication system that would withstand natural disasters by a greater degree.
A committee had been set up in the Department of Technology which will submit its report within two months for improving communication network during disasters. (PTI)
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