Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 6: Minister for Revenue Relief & Rehabilitation, Syed Basharat Bukhari, today asked the officers to ensure setting up of district disaster management offices across the State in order to meet any natural disaster or eventuality. He said the DPRs for the same should be prepared within 15 days.
The Minister was addressing officers during a review meeting convened to discuss the disaster management preparedness in the State. Financial Commissioner Revenue and Relief BB Vyas, Special Director General Police (Coordination/ Law & Order) Dr. S. P Vaid, DG SDRF Gopal Reddy, Commissioner Secretary Revenue Muhammad Ashraf Mir, MD JKPCC Dhilip Thusoo, VC LAWDA Tehseen Mustafa, Director Finance Revenue & Relief Shugufta Qazi and other senior officers were present.
The Minister directed the officers to ensure setting up of Emergency Operating Centres (EOCs) at the divisional level which should be replete with all state of the art facilities and gadgets so that the proactive reaction of the Government and other related agencies can be ensured within the shortest possible time. “We should derive the experience from the various natural disasters like earthquake and floods which have struck the State sometime back and evolve the necessary mechanism and measures to ensure reaction to these within the shortest possible time which can result in ensuring minimal damage to human lives and infrastructure,” he said.
Syed Basharat Bukhari also called for properly equipping the State Disaster Response Force by providing the latest equipments like satellite phones, prefab structures, motorized boats, and related items so that they are fully capable of providing quick and timely response during various natural calamities. He said that they should also be provided the requisite and trained human resource in order to deal with the calamities and protect the precious lives and infrastructure.
He also directed the DGP Coordination to provide additional manpower to the SDRF so that they can effectively discharge their duties in a proper and coordinated manner. A Standard Operating Procedure for SDRF should also be formulated for ensuring effective and quick response, he added.
The Minister also directed the officers to ensure the capacity building of the officers and other staff so that they can also effectively contribute their bit while dealing with natural calamities. He said that panchayats should also be provided the requisite technical knowhow and expertise to deal with these and the panchs and sarpanchs should also be educated about the measures to be taken for tackling and dealing with these by taking them to different institutions and places where the measures for disaster preparedness and response are imparted.
H also asked the officers to create a dedicated website and portal about the disaster management authority and also invite responses from different experts as well as the general public in order to make it broad based and responsive. He said that the services of the Meteorological Department should also be utilized so that a clear picture can be obtained about the weather conditions and the necessary measures to be obtained.
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