Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 20: The Government has adopted new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in case of natural calamities and disasters in the State. The new SOP has come into force with immediate effect.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the new SOP was necessitated as various shortcomings were witnessed in the previous SOP during worst ever floods in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir including capital city of Srinagar in September last year.
According to revised SOP, the Deputy Commissioners now will be entitled to sanction funds up to Rs 10 lakh for restoration of public infrastructure, the Divisional Commissioners up to Rs 20 lakh and the Financial Commissioner Revenue up to Rs 30 lakh for each sector and each calamity. However, beyond Rs 30 lakh, the claim will be referred to the SEC.
“The claims will be considered by the competent authority only after they are authenticated by a team of officers headed by ADDC and other members of the Committee including Executive Engineers of the concerned sector, Superintending Engineer R&B and Tehsildar concerned,’’ the SOP said.
It added that Rs 50 lakh, Rs 1 crore and Rs 2 crore will be placed at the disposal of each Deputy Commissioner, Divisional Commissioners of Jammu/Kashmir and Financial Commissioner, Revenue respectively for meeting out the expenses on account of any notified natural calamity annually from the next financial year i.e. 2015-16.
“The Divisional Commissioners will be responsible for arranging the relief material like tents, blankets, ration and boats whenever require. They will also make arrangements for keeping such stocks available at different places and the SEC shall consider request of the concerned Divisional Commissioner on this account for release of funds,’’ the revised SOP said, adding emergency operation centres shall be established in each district in phases, which will be provided with all facilities for communication, equipments for rescue operation and other material etc for using them during emergency.
The District Level Disaster Management Authority will meet every month and keep the SEC informed about status of various issues pertaining to the Disaster Management and providing of relief . The Financial Commissioner Revenue, who happened to be the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner of the State, will convene meetings with divisional administration and the Deputy Commissioners at least once in three months to review the progress and assess preparedness of the district authorities to meet with any eventuality in case of any disaster.
“In addition to the meeting of SEC convened for sanctioning of claims, the SEC shall meet otherwise as well at least twice a year to review overall scenario with regard to preparedness of administration to face challenges in case of any disaster,’’ the SOP said.
It added that in respect of damage to the private property (immovable) the Deputy Commissioners will sanction the claims as admissible under the norms of assistance as notified by the Government of India out of the NDRF/SDRF.
“The funds will be placed at the disposal of the Deputy Commissioner in this regard and such cases shall not be referred to the SEC. To finalize the claims, all Deputy Commissioners will constitute a committee under the chairmanship of ADDC with Assistant Commissioner, Revenue as its member secretary, Tehsildar concerned and Executive Engineer R&B as its members. On the basis of recommendations of the committee, the Deputy Commissioner will sanction the funds for disbursement of relief to the affected families,’’ the SOP said.
On payment of ex-gratia relief for replacement of milch animals/drought animals, the Deputy Commissioners will sanction the claims as per laid down SDRF norms subject to authentication/verification by the committee headed by ADDC with Chief Animal Husbandry Officer, District Sheep Husbandry Officer and Tehsildar concerned as members.
On the loss of crops, the claims up to Rs 10 lakh will be sanctioned by the Deputy Commissioners, up to Rs 25 lakh by the Divisional Commissioners and up to Rs 50 lakh by the Financial Commissioner (Revenue).
“Beyond this, the claims will be referred to the SEC. The ceiling of each claim shall be for each calamity. The claims will be sanctioned as per the SDRF norms by the concerned authority and for verification of such claim, a committee headed by the ADC with Chief Agriculture Officer, District Horticulture Officer and Tehsildar concerned as members shall be constituted to verify and authenticate the claims,’’ the SOP said.
As per the SOP, various committees will be constituted for verification and certification of the claims received from Departments, which will be beyond the competence of the district administration. The Committee included Health and Medical Education Department, State Motor Garages/Fire and Emergency Services, Civil Secretariat and Other Departments/Moving Officers outside Civil Secretariat.
“The Deputy Commissioner will issue orders for issuance of free ration to the affected families as per the norms notified by the Government of India for utilization of funds out of SDRF.
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