Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 12: Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey today chaired a meeting of the Executive Committee of SDRF to approve the final draft of J&K State Disaster Management Plan (JKSDMP).
The final draft has been prepared after incorporating comments, inputs and suggestions from all the departments and stake holders besides taking into consideration the recent devastating flood and previous disasters that have hit the State.
The Plan includes analysis of hazard/vulnerability profile, covering preventive/risk reduction aspects as well as response and recovery. It emphasises on the specific role of Government departments and other stake holders at the community level disaster preparation.
The Plan stresses on a clear command structure that will deal with emergency situations. It envisages establishing fully equipped Emergency Operation Centers at secure locations and its integration with the administrative chain of command. These EOCs will be the centers for coordinating the implementation of the Disaster Management Plan.
The Plan includes resource cataloguing, focussing on availability and stock of emergency equipment, location of stores at secure multiple places, training of human resources to significantly increase the capacity to intervene/support during emergency situations through simulation exercises and mock drills, insulation of communications system and apparatus from the effects of a disaster besides safety of official data and records.
The Plan addresses the urgent need to revisit the construction plans, incorporating building codes while constructing new structures and retrofitting old ones. It especially focuses on the need to carry out audit of safety standards of lifeline buildings and valuable equipment of various essential and emergency services in the State.
Addressing the meeting, the Chief Secretary said that State Disaster Response Force has to develop into a professional and dedicated force for disaster relief. He said, whatever lacunae and deficiency was reported while tackling the recent flood disaster must be factored in the Plan.
Mr Khandey said the training module should be designed in such a way that it meets the aspirations and requirements at community level besides paying major emphasis on community level disaster preparedness.
The meeting was attended by Financial Commissioner Revenue, Dr Arun Kumar, Principal Secretary Planning, B. R Sharma, Director General of Police, K Rajendra, Principal Secretary Finance, B B Vyas, Consultant, TATA Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai, Dr T Jayaraman, Administrative Secretary R&B, Revenue, Youth Services & sports, CAPD, H&UD, Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir provinces and other officers.
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