Lok Sabha Question No. 300 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-05
Subject: Disaster Preparedness
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAJESHBHAI NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 300

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 05 TH  FEBRUARY, 2019/ MAGHA 16, 1940 (SAKA)

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

300. SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  India  is  ready  to  deal  with  any  kind  of  natural  calamity  like earthquake and Tsunami;

(b)  if  so,  the  level  of  the  country's  preparedness  to  deal  with  such challenges; and

(c) the steps taken by the Government in this regard during the last three years?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) & (b): A Natural Calamity like earthquake and Tsunami can occur at any time in any place of the World. India has made constant progress in enhancing  preparedness  levels  of  the  Nation,  which  is  vulnerable  to natural hazards. The preparedness level of India is constantly improving in the  field  of  Disaster  Management.  Our  Disaster  Management  Act  2005 articulates the need for mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) into development planning. The National Policy on Disaster Management 2009 seeks to build a safe and disaster resilient India. The Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) has  the  latest  scientific  techniques  to  provide

## L.S.US.Q NO. 300 FOR 05.02.2019

early warnings of an impending tsunami, besides India, to the entire Indian Ocean  region  and  has  functioned  flawlessly  since  its  establishment  in October  2007.  ITEWC  is  considered  as  one  of  the  most  modern  tsunami warning centres in the world. The ITEWC has the necessary infrastructure and capabilities to give tsunami advisories to India as well as to the other countries of the Indian Ocean region. Guidelines have been published by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDME) to enhance preparedness  and  coping  capabilities of all stake holders including communities living in Tsunami-prone coastal areas, State Disaster Management Authority  (SDMAs),  State  Governments  and  other  agencies. Necessary  steps  have  been  taken  to  enhance  disaster  preparedness  in Government of India, all the concerned Ministries as well as at the State level.  Preparedness  has  also  been  enhanced  by  way  of  conducting capacity building exercises for professionals and communities, mock-drills and workshop and preparation of detailed emergency evacuation plans. The  National  Centre  for  Seismology  (NCS)  /  Ministry  of  Earth  Sciences (MoES) maintains a National Seismological Network to monitor earthquake activity in and around the country. Guidelines have been published by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Building Materials & Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC) and Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) etc. for the design and construction of earthquake

## L.S.US.Q NO. 300 FOR 05.02.2019

resistant  structures  to  minimize  the  loss  of  life  and  damage  to  property caused by earthquakes. These guidelines are in wide circulation amongst the public and the administrative authorities responsible for the design and construction  of  earthquake  resistant    structures  in  earthquake  prone areas.

(c) : As  per  Section  36  of  the  Disaster  Management  Act-2005,  every Ministry of the Central Government is required to take necessary measures for  disaster  management  including  disaster  preparedness.  Some  of  the major measures taken by this Ministry and National Disaster Management Authority  (NDMA) for improving disaster preparedness are:

i. Release of National Disaster Management Plan in 2016.

ii. Publication of 26 guidelines on different disasters by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) including guidelines on management of Earthquakes and Tsunamis.

iii. Setting  up  of  National  Disaster  Response  Force  (NDRF)  for  prompt response  and  pre-  positioning  of  NDRF  in  disaster  vulnerable  areas  and preposition them across various vulnerable locations in the country.

iv. Encouraging  States  to  set-up  their  own  State  Disaster  Response Forces.

## L.S.US.Q NO. 300 FOR 05.02.2019

V. Strengthening  of  State  and  District  Disaster  Management  systems through various schemes of central government.

Vi. Construction of multi-purpose cyclone shelters and training of coastal communities on shelters during 2011-2020.

vii. Conducting mock drills and workshops for effectively responding to disasters.

Viii. Carrying out capacity building of disaster professionals and communities by NDMA, NDRF and National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM).

ix. Organizing Annual Conference of Relief Commissioners and Secretaries  of  the  Department  of  Disaster  Management    of  States  and Union Territories  to  review  their  status  of  preparedness  for  dealing  with any natural disasters.

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