Disasters and Management

Recently I have visited the office of Disasater Management Cell of Mumbai.There was dedicated helplines,fully functioning servers and screens giving exact information of Rainfall,water levels, backup options in major water streams and Pumping functionalities. The office, though, a Government one have centralize air condition,indoor canteen and a very neat and cleaned hygenic atmosphere. One team was constantly handing the phone calls from citizes and compiling their queries in database.Another was analyzing that information and resolving the issues. Many questions asked by citizen were not at all related with Disaster Management however they aslo directed to proper authorities for their further compliance.The head of cell was sitting within the team and dictacting them with very friendly nature. The chief looks forward his subordinate as individual head of the assigned task and he is just sailing the ship. Even he was helping one fellow to learn english language. This is the right approach to have a healthy work atmosphere Govt Organisations especially in cell like disaster management where one have to work for 24*7*365. In recent communal tension this cell has played vital role and first aid was made available to police employees injured in Mass attack. In overall manner the cell is really working is systematic manner and have record of attending the spot withing 4 hours.

How this happend? There was a devastating flood in 1990 causing major loss of livehood of peoples of Munbai.Government in its usual fashion set a committee and appoint a consultant MWH.They together prepared a report in 1993 called as BRIMSTOWAD. The Governemet was inert and kept the report in bag as it was required Rs.601 crore for renovation of Storn water drains,constructing pumping stations. The report was again opened only after deludge of 26 July,2005. The 26 July had already caused loss of worth Rs.1.2 lakh crore,highest ever in Modern history if india. Now the questions comes whoes 1.2 lakh crore it was? and who is responsible for it? The amount 600 Crore is just 0.5% of the loss.This is the real problem.Our After the deludge PM declared BRIMSTOWAD as national Project and funded 1200 Crores.Apart from these huge grant MCGM come in big way carried out other sub works and set up a fast track body for fight againt water-logging problem which every year causes loss of 2-5 working day of finacial capital of India. One day of closure of Mumbai means loss of 15000 Crore rupees. MCGM worked very hard to implement BRIMSTOWAD,set up a dedicated Disaster Management Cell at and its branch offices at 26 LOCATIONS. The authorisation Matrix and responsibilities are designated to authorities. Now it is not only flood management cell but it is fully functional Disaster Mgmt Cell which has flood mgmt as one operation,rescue of people n natural calamaties is another,rehabilating affected poeple is next one. This loss of 1.2 lakh crore has reviewed seriously by both state as well as central Govt and an Act called Disaster Management act,2005 was made effective in state as well as national level.The National Institute of Disaster Management constituted under the Disaster Management Act 2005 has been entrusted with the nodal national responsibility for human resource development, capacity building, training, research, documentation and policy advocacy in the field of disaster management. The local D.M.or Collector was made head of District Disaster Management head.A institute is formed called National Disaster Managemet Authority and separate dedicated staff is recruited,trained for it. This team has acted in best manner saving lives of thousand of Indians during Tsunami Waves,earthquakes,floods and even in collapse of old buildings. Equiping the authoirty with concrete cutter machines,4 airoplanes to immediatley reach at affected areas and deligation of powers to NDMA has made the job quite easier.During floods on Kosi River of Bihar the NDMA has saved 1400 people's life.Now it is planned to set NDMA offices at every region in this five year plan.This is the welcome move by our policymakers.