GS Paper 3
Syllabus: Disaster Management
Source: DTE
Context: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) received the final inputs on the draft of India’s first national policy for the mitigation and rehabilitation of the people affected by river and coastal erosion.
Background:
- The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had directed NDMA to draft a policy based on the 15th Finance Commission’s report (2021).
- Until now, most policies in the country only address displacement after sudden rapid-onset disasters such as floods and cyclones.
Highlights of the 15th Finance Commission’s report:
- It introduces mitigation measures to prevent erosion under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF), with an allocation of Rs 1,500 crore for 2021-26.
- For the resettlement of displaced people affected by erosion, it allocates R 1,000 crore for the same period under the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF).
- The total allocation of Rs 2,500 crore, not just for structural (construction of sea walls and embankments) but also for non-structural solutions (rehabilitation), is a national recognition of the problem.
- For both funds, state governments will have to avail resources on a cost-sharing basis, contributing 25% (NE states – 10%) to the costs of mitigation and resettlement.
- NDMA will coordinate the allocations and expenses under NDRF and NDMF at the national level.
- The states must follow timelines for mitigation and rehabilitation projects without delays.
Highlights of the NDMA’s draft policy:
- It put in place some institutional mechanisms to manage displacement, which can be enacted under the Disaster Management Act 2005.
- Mapping coastal and river erosion impacts and coming up with a database of diverse challenges confronted by the affected and vulnerable habitations.
- District disaster management authorities (DDMA) would be the nodal agency to implement the measures, aided by other district agencies and a specific panchayat-level committee.
- The DDMA will prepare mitigation and rehabilitation plans → SDMAs → NDMA → the home ministry will approve the disbursal of funds.
- A qualified disaster management professional must be included in all teams.
- Projects under NDRF and NDMF should be sanctioned in such a manner that they can be completed within the award period of the Commission.
Concerns:
- The policy considers only erosion-linked displacement, but there is displacement owing to the deposition of eroded materials.
- It is not clear what the financial allocation (on a first-come, first-serve/on population density basis) will be under the policy.
Way ahead:
- Detailed hazard assessments carried out by central agencies such as the National Centre for Coast Research, etc., be made available to the SDMAs.
- Mapping of fallow areas must be taken up for rehabilitation.
- These should be made available in easy-to-access geographic information systems (GIS) formats by the NDMA.
Insta Links:
Disaster risk reduction: CEA releases disaster management plan for power sector
Mains Links:
Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster management by the Government of India departing from the earlier reactive approach. (UPSC 2020)
