Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 10: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo led the State Executive Committee (SEC) Meeting today regarding the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), where the addition of five more local disasters to the existing list was approved in accordance with SDRF guidelines.
The meeting saw participation from the Principal Secretary of Home and DMRR&R, along with other SEC members including the Principal Secretary of Finance, ADGP L&O, Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu, and the Secretary of Revenue. Deputy Commissioners joined via video conferencing from their respective offices.
During this important meeting, SEC members reached a consensus to add five locally relevant disasters to the SDRF roster, which now includes Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF), Lightning & Thunderstorm, Heavy Snowfall, Man-Animal Conflict incidents, and Boat Capsizing.
These added disasters have been identified as specific to the Union Territory, enabling the disbursement of benefits to those affected in line with SDRF standards. This action will provide significant relief to the many individuals impacted by such disasters.
Additionally, the SEC approved the release of over Rs 6 crore to the Deputy Commissioners of Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Srinagar, Rajouri, and Ramban, addressing their requests for extra funds to manage various disasters faced by these districts this year.
The committee also allocated Rs 6.5 crore to enhance the HG/CD/SDRF capabilities, which will include the purchase of essential equipment such as drones, remote-controlled lifebuoys, fire-entry suits, power descenders, and battery-operated cutter cum spreaders.
Further agenda items discussed included a provision of Rs 50 lakh for SDRF capacity building through training programs, mock drills, and other preparatory activities in the upcoming financial year. A sum of Rs 30 lakh was also earmarked for upgrading the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in J&K.
The Chief Secretary took this opportunity to discuss disaster preparedness with the Deputy Commissioners, noting their suggestions for improvement.
The Principal Secretary of the DMRR&R Department, Chandraker Bharti, outlined the department’s yearly activities and emphasized the importance of each item on the agenda to strengthen the UT’s ability to respond to prevalent disasters.
