Kerala - Kochi   

Disaster management system being unified

KOCHI: The district administration is set to undertake more effective coordination of disaster management activities being carried out by various departments.

The decision came at a meeting convened by District Collector M. Beena on Saturday to take stock of the disaster management activities in the district.

As part of this endeavour, the Collector has directed all the departments concerned to appoint a nodal officer and to convey it to the District Disaster Management Committee. During emergencies, these nodal officers would be the contact persons for the disaster management committee.

The Collector has also asked the departmental heads to complete preparing an inventory of the equipment and list of employees within two weeks.

The representatives of the industries department said collection of information would be completed within a month.

The departmental heads and nodal officers would be given training for participation in disaster management activities. The district wing of the National Safety Council would take steps in this regard.

Quick response teams under the guidance of the District Medical Officer had been formed in all hospitals to meet disasters. Similar teams would be formed in all departments for disaster management. Disaster management works would be compartmentalised into 13 sections coordinated by the district administration.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited would be in charge of communications. It will coordinate the activities of wireless operators, telecom department, mobile operators, FM Radio, Army Signal Regiment, Ham Radio satellite communication and community radio.

Police would coordinate the activities of civil defence, home guards, Central paramilitary forces, Central Industrial Security Force and Central Reserve Police Force during emergency situations.

Revenue Divisional Officers (RDO) would be responsible for evacuating people from affected areas. The health department would coordinate treatment and counselling of the affected.

The Publics Works Department would have to make available necessary equipment and clear the roads leading to the affected areas. Arranging relief centres would be the collective responsibility of RDOs and the Additional District Magistrate.

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