Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Teams to be set up for disaster management

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The district administration is preparing to set up ward-level rapid response teams for disaster management under the Urban Earthquake Vulnerability Reduction Project (UEVRP), a national initiative covering 38 cities.

The project is a component of the Disaster Risk Management Programme launched by the Union government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for cities with a population of over five lakh falling in seismic zone 3, 4 and 5. All the districts in Kerala have been classified under seismic zone 3, which represents earthquakes of magnitude up to 6.9 with risk of moderate damage.

Minister for Revenue K.P. Rajendran is scheduled to inaugurate the constitution of the ward-level teams at a function to be held here on Monday. Minister for Law M. Vijayakumar will preside over the inaugural function. The rapid response teams will comprise representatives of clubs, residents associations, voluntary agencies, neighbourhood groups, Nehru Yuva Kendra, Youth Welfare Board, Anganwadis and the literacy mission.

The community-based project seeks to reduce the vulnerabilities of residents in hazard-prone areas by strengthening the capacities of communities, urban local bodies and the administration in mitigation, preparedness and response. A key element of this programme is establishing linkages between the government and civil society.

The district administration is the nodal agency for the project.

The project has identified five major activities for disaster preparedness. These include an awareness campaign, training in relief work, preparation of decentralised disaster management plans, legislation and networking. Awareness generation is a key element of the plan. It involves campaigns to sensitise key government functionaries, technical institutions, NGOs and communities about earthquake vulnerability and possible preventive action. Regulatory agencies such as municipal corporations, development authorities, practicing engineers, architects and builders will be involved in the campaign.

Nodal departments are to be equipped to prepare earthquake preparedness and response plans at the department, city and community-levels.

The campaign will use the services of schools, anganwadis, neigbourhood groups, clubs and residents associations to reach out to target groups and inform them about earthquake hazards.

The training activities will enlist the services of Police, Fire and Rescue Service and the departments of Transport and Health. The ward-level teams are to be trained in early warning and communication, search and rescue, first aid and health, relief and coordination, evacuation and temporary shelter, water and sanitation and damage assessment survey.

Each ward will have a resource map, hazard map and response plan. The maps will be prepared in association with NGOs, social science colleges and voluntary agencies. The maps will help to identify hazard- prone structures and areas and vulnerable communities in the ward. It will also list the resources available within and around the ward.

The ward-level maps and plans will be integrated to prepare a city disaster management plan. The plan also includes development of emergency support functions and standard operating procedures and mock drills for preparedness.

The programme includes the creation of a website carrying information about earthquake hazards, preparedness, trained manpower and facilities. All ward and community-level disaster management plans will be linked to the State Disaster Resource Network & India Disaster Resource Network to utilise the data for emergency operations.

The disaster risk management programme proposes review of existing laws and enforcement mechanisms to promote safe construction and ensure compliance. It also stresses the need to link seismic risk management into development plans.

It highlights the need to create an inter city network to share knowledge on earthquake vulnerability reduction initiatives and to create an inventory of resources for emergency operations.

Kochi and Kozhikode are the other cities in Kerala identified for UEVRP.

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