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| Disaster management plan confined to papers only | | A year after its approval | | Saqib Junaid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Sept 24: Despite over a year having been passed since the state Cabinet approved state's first-ever disaster management plan but there has been no progress in its implementation.
In July 2015, the state Cabinet approved state's first-ever disaster management plan.
The government had said the plan is aimed at reducing the state's vulnerability to hazards and enhance human and institutional capabilities to cope with disasters and natural calamities in a more effective manner.
Sources said despite having passed over a year, there has been no progress in implementation of the disaster management plan.
"No work has been started for its implementation and it has been confined to papers," an official of Revenue and Rehabilitation department said. "It shows the non-seriousness of the government in dealing with natural disasters."
Two battalions of auxiliary forces were converted into State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) in 2012. However, the SDRF is still ill-equipped and its forces are not in a position to deal with any emergency at the time of any natural calamity. Its men have also been assigned other duties like security.
A senior official admitted that SDRF lacks equipment and proper training to deal with natural calamities. He said the government was considering how to strengthen the SDRF in the state.
Jammu and Kashmir has recorded 34 earth quakes in 2015 which has brought to limelight the state's vulnerabilities to natural disasters.
According to the Indian Metrological Department, most parts of Kashmir covering the districts of Srinagar, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Budgam, Anantnag and parts of Jammu region, Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar come under Seismic Zone V and are prone to earthquakes.
While the rest part of the state comes under Seismic Zone IV.
In 2015, the frequent earth quakes some were measured above 7 magnitude on the Richter scale has proved that J&K is prone to earthquakes and there is a dire need of having well equipped agencies to deal with natural disasters.
According to the disaster management plan report, 13 districts in J&K out of 100 districts in India have been identified as 'multi hazard districts' and has called for pro-active, holistic and comprehensive approach towards disaster risk reduction and management.
The report says that most parts of Kashmir valley covering the districts of Srinagar, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Budgam, Anantnag and parts of Jammu, Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar come under Seismic Zone V and are prone to earthquakes.
While as areas along major highways particularly Ramban, Panthial, Banihal, Doda, Kishtwar, Gulmarg, Dawar, Gurez, Tangdhar, Rajouri are landslide prone.
During winters, the region mostly face disasters like snow avalanche, land sliding due to its peculiar topography, rugged terrain and extreme weather conditions.
The state's vulnerability to natural disasters clearly indicate that there is a dire need of having well equipped agencies to deal with natural disasters.
A professor who teaches at Kashmir University says J&K falls in the seismic zone of IV and V and people should be well prepared for earthquakes.
"We can't predict the timing, magnitude and place of an earthquake but we should be well prepared in dealing with any such natural disaster," he said.
In backdrop of repeated earthquakes in 2013 in Kishtwar district, an expert team headed by former vice-chancellor of Kashmir University Professor Talat Ahmad found that majority of the offices and schools were not in a position to resist the earth quake and could face damages due to earth quake.
The expert team had told the government that buildings which are being constructed in the state are poorly designed and are highly vulnerable to earthquake. |
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