An Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to coordinate relief in the event of a natural disaster or calamity is coming up in Northwest Delhi’s Shalimar Bagh, following deliberations over averting the devastation that followed the Turkey earthquake. While the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has already approved land for the same, Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar has also mooted the possibility of a similar centre for mitigation of fire-related incidents occurring in the Shahjahanabad Walled City area at Vikas Bhawan-II in Civil Lines, sources aware of developments said. According to sources, these were among the measures discussed in a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) chaired by L-G VK Saxena, with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in attendance on March 18. Delhi falls in Zone-IV of the Seismic Map and large portions of housing in the city are not in accordance with building rules and bylaws, making them inherently weak and prone to damage and making residents “extremely vulnerable in the event of an earthquake”, the L-G had noted. Saxena had also observed that approaches in unauthorised colonies were narrow, making movement of vehicles and people “almost impossible” in case of any disaster. The CM had pointed out that a large number of buildings in Delhi were unsafe and efforts had been made from time to time to conduct a survey, but effective action needed to be taken in this regard. According to sources, while the Chief Secretary had also underlined that Delhi did not have a State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) like other metros, the DDMA would take a leaf out of its national counterpart with regard to its ‘Aapda Mitra’ scheme. The DDMA will train 1,800 volunteers in basic relief skills and rescue measures so they can support communities during disaster situations. These volunteers, according to sources, will be provided with an emergency response Kit and insurance cover, for a sum insured of Rs 5 lakh, for any bodily injury or death claim. In the meantime, sources said, the DDMA has procured 53 satellite phones in consultation with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) through BSNL which are expected to be vital in any disaster-like situation which may trigger a communications failure. Equipment, in consultation with NDRF, for all 11 districts in Delhi for effective and early response related to incidents of building collapse, uprooting of trees and other disasters is also being procured, sources said. In addition to issuing directions for expediting training of Aapda Mitra volunteers, Saxena had sought to highlight the unpredictable nature of disasters, citing his experience of the Bhuj earthquake in Gujarat and also referred to the disastrous earthquake in Turkey and frequent tremors that had been experienced in the NCR.
