Disaster management bill passed

After passing the National Rural Employment Guarantee bill last session, the UPA government8217;s next trademark legislature, the Disaster ...

After passing the National Rural Employment Guarantee bill last session, the UPA government8217;s next trademark legislature, the Disaster Management Bill, was unanimously passed by the Rajya Sabha today after the Centre agreed to give the states power to draft their own disaster management policies and rules.

Incorporating an all-time-high of 96 amendments, the bill piloted by Home Minister Shivraj Patil was passed by the Rajya Sabha by voice vote even as the Opposition and the ruling coalition tore into each other on the Volcker report in the Lower House.

While seeking to set up a plethora of committees and funds, the bill also institutionalises disaster management and coordination of relief, rescue, rehabilitation and reconstruction at the national, state and district levels.

The Bill provides for setting up a National Disaster Management Authority under the chairmanship of the Prime minister, a state disaster management authority under the CM and a district authority under the DM, he said.

Once it8217;s passed in the Lower House, a National Disaster Response Force will be constituted and so would a National Institute of Disaster Management, National Fund for Disaster Response and another for National Fund for Disaster Mitigation be set up. Similar funds at state and district levels will also be set up.

Explaining the need for setting up multiple funds8212;8216;8216;a small amount to be

kept at the districts for immediate relief and rescue operations, another fund for interim relief, a third for rehabilitation and reconstruction and the fourth for a mitigation fund8217;8217;8212; Patil assured the members of the Upper House that 8216;8216;there would be accountability regarding funds released for tackling disaster8217;8217;.

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He also assured the House that elected representative of the district level would be included in the statutory bodies8212;as recommended by the Standing Committee. The zilla parishad chief will be made the co-chairperson of the district-level disaster management body, along with the District Magistrates.

After the issue was raised by the opposition members, Patil made it clear that the membership of the Disaster Management Authority would not exceed 10 members even though there is a provision for reducing it, if required.

Lest the UPA8217;S coalition partners or the left allies walk away with the credit of the NCMP-backed bill, Patil repeatedly underlined that though the previous regime had drafted a similar bill, it was the Congress which included the demand for such a bill in their party manifesto.