Need to relook at compensation norms, says NDMA vice chairman

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Vice Chairman Marri Sasidhar Reddy has said that there is a need to take a relook at norms related to payment of compensation in case of natural disasters.
He also said it was time to seriously look at leveraging technology for actual assessment of crop losses in calamities.
Talking to PTI after inspecting the trail of destruction left behind by the recent heavy rains and floods in Nalgonda district this evening, Reddy said that technology should be leveraged for more reliable assessment of damage caused to crops.
"We have to draw a parity between damages seen from the skies and the actual ground situation," he said, referring to the National Remote Sensing Centre report on recent damages caused by Cyclone Phailin.

Referring to the series of natural calamities, Sasidhar Reddy said, "First it was Cyclone Phailin and then it was the low pressure area. Next, the northeast monsoon set in. All this happened one after the other in quick succession and caused extensive rainfall. Everything added to the misery."
He alleged that there is a lack of co-ordination between the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Central Water Commission.
"The IMD looks at forecasting and the CWC has its own forecasting system. The CWC comes up with its forecast only when it sees waters rise (in rivers). It does not take rainfall into account," he alleged.

Referring to the destruction caused by the recent deluge in Nalgonda district, Sasidhar Reddy said that about 300 minor irrigation tanks had been breached, while paddy and cotton crops suffered extensive damage.