The Hindu : Other States News : Disaster management plan for Puducherry ready

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Saturday, Mar 15, 2008
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Disaster management plan for Puducherry ready

Rajesh B. Nair

Photo: T. Singaravelou

Well prepared: Members of the National Disaster Response Force attending to a ‘cyclone victim’ during a mock drill at Veerampattinam on Friday. —

PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry government has prepared a complete disaster management plan for all coastal villages in the Union Territory, Collector and Additional Secretary (Revenue) G. Theva Neethi Dhas said on Friday.

A complete sketch of the coastal villages, including the list of family members, vulnerable sections in the community, low-lying areas and shelter homes had been prepared by the Revenue Department, he told The Hindu shortly after witnessing a mock drill as part of the disaster management plan to rescue victims of natural disaster, held at Veerampattinam.

The detailed map of all coastal villages in Puducherry region had been complete, he said. A similar exercise would be conducted in Karaikal, Yanam and Mahe regions. The map prepared by the department contained the list of family members, number of children, women, physically challenged persons, besides the topography of the locality, he said. Shelter homes to accommodate each segment of the community including pregnant women, physically challenged and general public had been identified in coastal villages.

Disaster rescue kit

Mr. Dhas said the government was in the process of distributing a disaster rescue kit that included a life-jacket, first-aid medicines and equipment for rescue operations to the representatives of fishing community in all the coastal villages.

The government had outlined a programme with the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme for putting in place a proper disaster management plan, including training of community members for rescue operation.

The first such programme was organised at Veerampattinam, the largest coastal village in the Union Territory, where a selected group, including members of self-help groups, representatives of village panchayats and youth clubs was trained to carry out rescue operation during natural calamities.

After a week-long training programme by the officials of the Revenue Department and the UNDP personnel, a mock exercise was conducted in the village to check the level of awareness and preparedness of disaster management programme.

Various government departments and Central agencies such as the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Central Industrial Security Force and the Coast Guard (CG) participated in the mock drill.

Members of the NDRF demonstrated their skills in rescuing persons trapped in collapsed houses and transporting the victims to first aid centres.

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