Disasters are generally caused by the fury of nature. Scientists are focusing their attention on developing a mechanism of foretelling disasters so that their direct impact on human life and property can be averted. For example, good deal of research is conducted in many developed countries like Japan and China on anticipating storms and hurricanes in the oceans or the tsunamis that recently struck Japan. However, no foolproof theory could be developed so far to anticipate a variety of natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, landslides, avalanches, cloudbursts etc. These natural phenomena have taken heavy toll of life. In fact human history has often changed and taken a new direction owing to these disasters. Old cities have disappeared and new cities and habitats have come up. Green regions have turned into deserts and great rivers have changed their course.
Our State has had its share of disasters. Our geography and topography have much to do with it. For example J&K is very much shown on the seismographic map of India. Our past history is replete with earthquakes, floods, famines, and landslides, all of which have consumed so many lives. Even the creation of the region now called Kashmir is the result of a huge natural phenomenon in which the mountains in the northern part of the valley split into two as a result of the huge water glacier of Kashmir got desiccated and then appeared the dry land over thousands of years.
However, this being the ground situation, modern man is trying to allow minimum damage to life and property on account of these disasters. The system evolved is called Disaster Management Authority. We have such an Authority at central level and also on State level. This Authority is not concerned only about providing relief to the people affected by a natural calamity but also to take preventive steps in time to warn the people how they should face a disaster likely to take place. In fact the floods of September 2014 have brought many lessons to the administration and the people as well of how we are responsible in helping a calamity happen so rapidly and destroy us in shortest possible time. There has been a lot of criticism of the Government for its non-serious attitude towards disaster managing mechanism and also providing timely relief to the people. Nearly ten months have passed by when that tragedy struck the valley and other places in the State. People were becoming impatient about Government delaying certain urgent activities that would prevent recurrence of floods, fires and other calamities. But the Chief Minister has finally approved the first ever Disaster Management Plan, the formulation of which was entrusted to Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Mumbai. The DMP, approved by the CM will work to identify and anticipate potential risks and ensure continuity in critical operations post-incident. Two major principles guide the plan. One is to reduce vulnerability to hazards and the second is to enhance human capability to cope with disasters and calamities. This is possible to be achieved if there is good planning and a mechanism in place. The example of Japan is worth citing. That country is largely vulnerable to earthquakes but Japanese have learnt the art of coping with the disaster whenever it strikes. The main highlight of the SDMP is to have the Standing Operating Procedure (SOP) which has to be followed whenever there is a disaster. The Chief Minister has suggested that State Disaster Management Authority should have Emergency Operations’ Centers at divisional and district levels so that the entire process of disaster management has adequate structure. This is for the first time that the State Disaster Management mechanism has been given due recognition and direction for action in a situation of disaster.
We appreciate CM’s initiative in this regard. But we will emphasize the truth that a well planned mechanism become really effective when it delivers on the ground. The Government has also committed full financial support to the mechanism. With its concern for restoration of normal life in face of some disasters, the Government and people both feel relaxed that in case of a disaster, the Government machinery will move fast to save the lives from impending disaster and to provide relief to the needy.
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