Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 5: Describing J&K as one of the disaster vulnerable places in South Asia, Minister for Revenue Relief, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Disaster Management Abdul Rehman Veeri today said that for the first time in the history of J&K, State Disaster Mitigation Fund worth Rs 25 crore has been created for mitigation of disaster.
The Minister said that it is almost impossible to prevent disasters, but it the job of the Government to create resources for the mitigation of disasters.
He said that flood mitigation, preparedness and response plan will be prepared on scientific lines, inter alia, including traditional methods of watch and ward and effective community participation.
The Minister said that it is important to have the inventory of medical resources at district level besides important medicines and machines should be kept on the first floor of the hospital.
Veeri also asked the Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu to direct all the Tehsildars to identify the boats, boatmen, high rise buildings, tractors, tippers, JCBs and other material in their jurisdiction which can be used in any eventuality and submit the report within 15 days.
Citing the example of Uttarakhand where helipads were constructed in every area after 2013 floods to facilitate food material and deployment of rescue forces, Revenue Minister also asked the Divisional Commissioners to identify land for helipads in every area at vintage points which can be specially meant for usage in disasters.
Veeri also asked the FCS&PD Department to identify land and build new godowns at Vintage points in all areas besides making existing ones disaster resilient.
He also stressed on further undertaking community based disaster preparedness activities by involving management committees of local Mosques, Gurdawaras, Temples and Churches etc and training of local volunteers.
Regarding the construction of central Emergency Operation Center (EOC), Minister asked the officials to fast track its construction with all the facilities and communication facilities required in a disaster.
Stressing on the role of communication, Veeri asked the Home Department to take up the matter of satellite linking of the cellular telephone towers to ensure uninterrupted communication during any disaster besides procurement of satellite phones and wireless sets for SDMA.
Revenue Minister also asked the Department of Metrology to install two more Doplar radars at Gulmarg and Banihal within 15 days.
Minister also impressed on strict implementation of School Safety Policy 2016 and disaster resistant construction of schools.
Financial Commissioner Revenue Lokesh Jha, Principal Secretary Health and Medical Education Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Commandant, General, Home Guards/CD/SDRF Dilbag Singh, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Khan, Commissioner/Secretary Revenue Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Commissioner/Secretary PWD Sanjeev Varma, CEO JTFRP Saurabh Bhagat, Commissioner/Secretary FCS&CA Shfeeq Raina, Director F&ES Rajinder Hak, Director Disaster Management Aamir Ali and other officers of concerned departments were present in the meeting.
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