Uttar Pradesh to upgrade disaster management Act

The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to draft its Disaster Management Policy within the next six months, which would help the state upgrade its preparedness in dealing with disasters and natural calamities.

Besides, the UP Disaster Management Act would be redrafted by a committee comprising senior government officials. These are aimed to ensure prompt relief and rescue operations in case of natural calamities.

Apart from these, the subject of disaster management would be made mandatory in NCC and NSS camps, and campaigns would be launched to inform the general public about it.

The decision was taken at the first State Disaster Management Authority governing body meeting here. Chairing the meeting, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav stressed the need to educate people about natural calamities and ensuring larger participation of teachers and NCC cadets.

Yadav suggested active involvement of the revenue, irrigation, agriculture, urban development, and fire department officials for better execution of disaster management projects in the state.

Meanwhile, the UP Disaster Management Act drafting committee would work under the chairmanship of principal secretary (revenue) and comprise principal secretaries of the law, irrigation and planning departments as members. The relief commissioner would be the convener.

State revenue minister, Ambika Chowdhary, who has been nominated as the State Disaster Management Authority vice-chairman, said the drafting committee would study the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and similar Acts in Bihar, Gujarat and Assam, besides the clauses of State Disaster Management Authority.

Under the UP Disaster Management Act, the authority is mandated to make regulations. As such, bylaws are also required to be made for the execution of the Act. A store house has been proposed to be built for the Authority over an 800 square meter land in Lucknow.