A sub-committee, comprising the Revenue Divisional Officer, the Divisional Forest Officer, irrigation engineer, and other officials, will be in place soon to assist the City Disaster Management Authority (CDMA). Currently, the Joint Collector, the Municipal Commissioner, the Police Commissioner, the Irrigation SE, the VMC Chief Engineer, the District Supplies Officer, and the Regional Fire Office are members of the authority.
The proposal for a sub-committee came up at a city-level consultation workshop organised by the UNDP-GOI-USAID.
The participants felt the field staff should involve in disaster risk reduction and mitigation programmes for achieving the desired objectives. Subsequently, the sub-committee proposal was mooted. Municipal Commissioner Md. Abdul Azeem explained the urban risk initiatives in the city and said the authority was formed in 2011. “The city disaster management plan has been prepared both in Telugu and English languages. Ward-level disaster management plan, which is a community-based disaster preparedness plan, has also been prepared for 25 select wards in the city. A City Emergency Operation Centre has also been established,” he added. Joint Collector P. Usha Kumari stressed the need for readiness to face disaster, which could be either man-made or natural. The Bhopal gas tragedy was a result of minor error. But, its impact was huge. The mitigation plans helped in reducing the impact, she felt.
UNDP Project Officer Abha Mishra said disasters were increasing in frequency and impact. Climatic change was partly responsible for it.
RDO S. Venkat Rao, UNDP project coordinator Chiranjit Das, Special Commissioner for disaster management Padmasri, UNDP project coordinator, VMC, Ch. Ashalatha, were present.
