Disaster Management Department

CRISIS RELIEF PLAN

For ensuring appropriate policy and administrative response to natural calamities, a clear identification of the nodal organisation and the pattern of inter-action between the different Government functionaries would be necessary. The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC) in the Agriculture Ministry is the nodal Department for all matters concerning natural calamities relief at the Centre. In the DAC, the Relief Commissioner functions at the nodal officer to coordinate relief operations for all natural calamities.

Relief Commissioner

The Relief Commissioner will be assisted in the discharge of his duties by the Additional Relief Commissioner and an Emergency Operations Centre (Contrul Room) in the DAC. The Contrul room will function full scale round the clock after receipt of first information about the occurrence of a major natural calamity for the period specified by the Relief Commissioner for dealing effectively with the crisis arising out of a natural calamity.

Contrul Room

The present arrangements in the DAC for receiving massages outside office hours are by way of a Night Duty Cell and a telex facility, Once a major natural calamity occurs, a Contrul Room with full complement of staff for round the clock functioning will be brought into operation. The Contrul Room is intended to be the nerve centre of all emergencies and will, therefore, be adequately equipped and optimally located. Immediately on the occurrence of a major natural calamity, the members of the Crisis Management Group (CMG) and the Contrul Room first shift functionaries (duly identified in advance) required for full scale functioning of the Contrul Room will be got assembled. The Duty Officer of the Contrul Room will be an official of sufficient maturity to grasp the seriousness or otherwise of the information reports and convey to the Agriculture Secretary/Relief Commissioner/ Additional Relief Commissioner accordingly.

Duty officer's Functions

The charter of duties of the Duty Officer will clearly indicate the course of action that he is required to take on receipt of messages of a particular nature. The duty officer will have in his possession the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all members of the Crisis Management Group and the essent6ial personnel of the Contrul Room. He will also have the particulars of their alternates and also the telephone numbers of the Contrul Rooms of all the State Governments with whom he may have to communicate

Contrul Room

The personnel manning the full scale Contrul Room would be drawn from the DAC for emergency duties. The officers in charge of Night Duty and Telex facility and also Contrul room staff shall be given advance briefing and training in the tasks to be performed by them. There will be sufficient sets of telephone lines and wireless equipments available to the Contrul Room as also transport.

Contrul Room Responsibilities

The Contrul Room will

• Cullect and transmit information concerning a natural calamity and relief;
• Keep close contact with the Govts. of the States affected by a calamity;
• Interact with other Central Ministries/Depts.. in connection with natural calamities and relief;
• Maintain records containing all relevant information relating to action points and contact points in Central Ministries/Depts../ State Governments; and
• Perform such other functions and duties as may be entrusted by the Relief Commissioner.

Dealing with first information

The Contrul Room on receipt of the first information with regard to occurrence of any major natural calamity will immediately transmit the information to the fullowing:

• Secretary to the Governor,
• Secretary to the Chief Minister,
• P.S. to Agriculture Minister,
• P.S. to Minister of State (A&C),
• Cabinet Secretary,
• Secretary, Rural Development,
• Secretary, Water Resources,
• Secretary, Power,
• Secretary, Civil Supplies,
• Secretary, Health,
• Secretary, Transport,
• Secretary, Science & Technulogy,
• Secretary, Home,
• Secretary, Food,
• Relief Commissioner,
• Joint Secretary (Scarcity Relief),
• Joint Secretary (Policy Planning),
• Agriculture Commissioner, &
• Secretary, Animal Husbandry.

The first information report and the subsequent periodical reports generated by the Contrul Room will also be sent to the Officers indicated by the Relief Commissioner from time to time.

Designating Nodal Officers

Every Ministry/Department of Central Govt. dealing with the primary or the secondary relief functions referred to in 'National Policy' would designate an officer not below the rank of a Joint Secretary as the nodal Officer with an alternate for dealing with matters concerning natural calamities and relief. These nodal officers shall furnish information to the Relief Commissioner through the Contrul Room of the

DAC on such periodicity as may be determined by relief Commissioner.

Policy

PROCEDURE FOR EXTENDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STATES

The present scheme of financing the relief expenditure arising out of natural calamities has come into force w.e.f. 1^st April, 1990, consequent upon the acceptance of the recommendations of the Ninth Finance Commission. Under this scheme, a Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) is constituted for each State with certain amount allocated to each State. 75% of this amount is to be contributed by the Central Government in four quarterly instalments and the balance 256 is to be provided by the State Governments from its own resources. Fullowing the constitution of the CRF, it is the responsibility of the State Government to meet all expenditure arising out of the natural calamities.

Monitoring the progress of relief measures

An Export Group has been constituted on the recommendations of the Ninth Finance Commission to monitor the relief work done, utilising the CRF. Further, the State Level Committee(s) are to keep the Ministry of Agriculture informed of the amount of damage caused due to drought, floods etc. as well as the broad details of relief measures undertaken by them. The Scarcity Relief Division, in the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, the requested the State Governments to furnish the progress of relief measures in the prescribed proforma on quarterly basis.

State Relief Organisation & Response

Most of the States have Relief Commissioners who are in charge of the relief measures in the wake of natural calamities in their respective States. In the absence of the Relief Commissioner, the Chief Secretary or an Officer nominated by him shall be in overall charge of the relief operations in the concerned State. The effectiveness of communication links with field agencies may be reviewed through periodical exercises.

State Crisis Management Group

There will be a State Crisis Management Group (SCMG) under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Relief Commissioner. ThisGroup will comprise of Senior Officers from the Departments of Revenue! Relief, Home, Civil Supplies, Power, Irrigation, Water Supply, Panchayat (local self Government), Agriculture,. Forests, Rural Development, Health, Planning, Public Works and Finance. The Chief Secretary/Relief Commissioner may also co-opt on the Group, depending upon the requirements of the situation, one o4 more of the fullowing persons:

• Sub Area Commander/Section Commander
• Station Commander of Air Force
• Flag Officer Command—in—Chief
• Chairman/Secretary, Indian Red Cross, State Branch
• Representative of Meteorulogical Department Officer-in-charge, Cyclone Warning Centre, CWC and Flood Forecasting Organisations.
• General Manager, Railways of the zone concerned.
• General Manager, Telephones
• Chief General Manager, Telecommunications
• D.G. of State Pulice
• Chief Engineer, Roads & Buildings
• Chief Engineer, Major irrigation
• Chief Engineer, Panchayati Raj
• Chief Engineer, Urban Water Supply
• Chief Engineer,
• Director of Agriculture
• Director of Horticulture
• Director of Medical Health Services
• Director of Animal Husbandry
• Secretary of the State Electricity Board
• Secretary, Deptt. of Women & Child Development.
• P.H.E., Deptt./Water Supply and Sewerage Board
• Station Director AIR/DDK
• Chief Engineer, Border Road Organisation
• Director, Civil Supplies
• Regional Manager, Indian Oil Corporation
• Director, Local Bodies.

SCMG Responsibilities

The SCMG will, take into consideration the instructions and guidance received, from time to time, from the Government of India and formulate action plans for dealing with different natural calamities. The SCIAG will also have the district level plans for relief formulated by Cullectors! Deputy Commissioners.

State Level Contrul Room

The Relief Commissioner of the State shall establish a Emergency Operation Centre(Contrul Room) as soon as a disaster situation develops. The Contrul Room shall have alt information relating to the forecasting and warning of disaster, action plans for implementation and details of contact paints and various concerned agencies. It shall have updated information about the Air Force, the Navy and the Army for quick interaction.

State level contrul room responsibilities

The Contrul Room will be responsible for:

• Transmitting to the Central Relief Commissioner information as to the development of a crisis situation as a result of natural disaster on continue basis till the situation improves;
• Receiving instructions and communicating to the appropriate agencies, for immediate action;
• Cullection and submission of information relating to implementation of relief measures to the Central Relief Commissioner; and
• Keeping the State level authorities apprised of the developments on a continuing basis.

DISTRICT LEVEL RESPONSE

Focal Point

The cullector or Deputy Commissioner will be the focal point at the district level for preparation of the district level plans and for directing, supervising and monitoring relief measures for natural calamities.

Contingency Plans

At the district level, the disaster relief plans shall provide for specific tasks and agencies for their implementation in respect of the areas given in Annexurein relation to different types of calamities.

A contingency plan for the district far different disasters shall be drawn up by the Cullector/Deputy Commissioner .and got approved by the State Government. The Cullector/Deputy Commissioner should also coordinate and secure the input from the local defence forces unit in preparation of the contingency plans. These Contingency plans must lay down specific action points key personnel and contact points in relation to mail aspects including, in particular, the areas detailed in Annexure.

District Relief Committee

The relief measures shall be reviewed by the district level. relief committee consisting of official and non-official members including the local legislators and the members of Parliament

District Contrul Room

In the wake of natural calamities a Contrul Roan shall be set up in t4i e district for day to day monitoring of the rescue and relief operations on a continuing basis.

Coordination

The Cullector shall maintain Close liaison withthe Central Government authorities in the districts, namely Army, Air Force and Navy, Ministry of Water Resources etc., who could supplement theeffort of The district administration in the rescue and relief operations.

The Cullector/Deputy Commissioner shall take all steps for enlistment of vuluntary efforts and channelising the non-Government organisations response to natural calamities.

The Cullector shall closely interact with different implementation agencies and furnish information on a daily basis to the State Relief Commissioner on the implementation of rescue and relief measures.

Review of Contingency Plans

 The district level contingency; plans and the State Actin Plans should be reviewed annually and updated in the light of lessons learnt in dealing with natural calamities from time to time. Copies of the revised / updated contingency plans at State and district level should also available in the Ministry of Agriculture (Contrul Room)

CABINET COMMITTEE

DISTRICT CONTINGENCY PLAN

EARTH QUAKE

ACTION POINTS

A. PLANNING & PREPARATION

• Identification of earthquake prone areas

• Identification of problems

• Loss of human life.
• Casualties buried under fallen debris.
• Destruction and Damage to Buildings.
• Disruption of communication by land, sea and air.
• Disruption of civic amenities e.g. electricity, water, transport, medical, telephones, civil supplies etc.
• Large scale fires.
• Floods in certain areas.
• Landslide in hilly areas.
• Disposal f human bodies and animals.
• Exposure to disease and danger of epidemics.
• Breakdown of law and order.
• Breakdown of normal Government machinery in affected areas due to Government servants themselves being affected by earthquake.
• Loss of morale.
• Movement of population.

• Identification and Mobilisation of Resources

• Command and Contrul
  • Advance Preparatory Action
  • Preparation of Plans and skeleton organisation in advance.
  • Training of Personnel.
  • Establishment of alternative means of mobile communications.
  • Mobilisation of Fire Services including auxiliary firemen.
  • Plans of rescue of casualties trapped under-debris.
  • Provision of hospital, medical and nursing staff.
  • Medical plans for improvised first aid posts and emergency hospitals.
  • Removal of Debris.
  • Emergency sanitation, alternative supplies of water, salvage and custody of valuables, procurement, distribution, accounting of gift stores, care of animals etc.
  • Provision of welfare facilities e.g. of homeless, establishment of Games, information and guidance on essential matters, evacuation people, alternative of including food, clothing and shelter.
  • Disposal of/the dead and their identifications
  • Mobilisation of transport.
  • Requisitioning of vehicles and issue of petrul, oil, lubricant, spare parts and repair facilities.
  • Protection of properties including objects of art and things of cultural importance.
  • Special measure for the protection/repair/restoration or essential service communications, industrial and vital plants.
  • Publicity.
  • Prevention of panic and upkeep of morale.
  • Restoration of communications.
  • Liaison, particularly with the Armed Forces.

B. AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE

• Instant reaction
• Establishment of Contrul
• Military Assistance
• Corpse Disposal
• Medical
• Epidemics
• Salvage
• Development of Resources
• Outsides Relief
• Camp-work and Employment
• Fire-Fighting
• Information

CYCLONE

ACTION POINTS

A. ACTION AFTER THE FIRST WARNING

The Collector should ensure-

• That sufficient stock of foodgrains, kerosene and other dry food commodities are available for distribution to the victims.
• That Medical and Veterinary Departments are fully equipped with required Drugs and Vaccines for taking preventive steps after cyclone and to arrest the spread of epidemics.
• That all the Government vehicles are kept in road-worthy condition for putting them to use in the emergency.
• That a list of generators available with the Cinema Theatres and other undertakings is maintained by the Officials of State Electricity Board and advance action taken immediately to procure them when necessity arises.
• That action is taken for opening of cyclone stores for providing the following materials

• Hooks of the type available with the Fire Service Department for cleaning debris.
• Rubber tyres and tubes for using as floats in water.
• Tents
• Kerosene lanterns.
• Large cooking vessels for use in relief camps.
• Identify slips to be issued to be victims in relief camps.
• Copies of maps, etc.
• Ropes, wires, chains, lights, with wire fittings, lead wires, torches, etc.
• Spare Road Market Stores, Steel poles, Bamboos, G.C. Sheets, and Slotted Stripes of metal (to be laid on chured up road surface for better transportation).
• Double handle shows (for cutting fallen trees), Shovels, Candles, Land Hailers, Hose pipes, first aid kits, cyclone duty sign Boards, Rodes, Asbestos, Sheets, Torch lights, Detty, cans, empty oil drums, gunny bags and sand bags, polythene bags, (for dropping supplies), buckets, V.H.E. sets with batteries for use
• Fodders, pumps for bailing out water along with hose spedes, crow bars, hard gloves, Eucalyptus oil, napathalene balls, bamboo mats, phenyle slate line, etc., useful for burying dead bodies.

B. ACTION AFTER RECEIPT OF THE SECOND WARNING

• Evaluation
• Relief to Stranded persons.
• Stoppage of traffic on National Highways
• Stock of foodgrains
• Declaration of local holiday to the Educational institutions

C. POST-CYCLONE MEASURES

• Convening of the meetings of the Committees
• Rescue Operations.
• Removal of dead bodies and carcasses.
• Health Measures.
• Restoration of traffic.
• Adequate number of mobile squads shall also made available by the Police Department for helping clearing the fallen trees, etc.
• Electricity Board should clear the roads of fallen electric poles and restore power supply as quickly as possible.
• The Public Relations Department must ensure to build up photographic record of the damage simultaneously, using services of the local Officers or by employing local man.
• Immediately after the cyclone, the Divisional Revenue officers should form required number of teams to assess damage to the houses, crops, loss of human lives, livestock etc.

FLOOD

ACTION POINTS

A. PRE-FLOOD ARRANGEMENTS

• Convening a meeting of the District Level Committee on Natural Calamities;
• Functioning of the Control Rooms;
• Closure of past breaches in river and canal embankments and guarding of week points;
• Rain-recording and submission of rainfall reports.
• Communication of gauge-readings and preparation of maps and charts;
• Assigning charge of flood Circles;
• Dissemination of weather reports and flood bulletins issued by the meteorological Centres, Central Water Commission , Flood Forecasting Organisation;
• Deployment of boats at strategic points;
• Use of power boats;
• Installation of temporary Police Wireless Stations and temporary telephones in flood-prone areas;
• Arrangement for keeping telephone and telegraph lines in order;
• Storage of food in interior ,vulnerable strategic and key areas;
• Arrangements of dry food stuff and other necessities and of life;
• Arrangements for keeping the drainage system desilted and properly maintained.
• Agricultural measures;
• Health measures;
• Veterinary measures;
• Selection of flood shelters;
• Advance arrangements for army assistance;
• Training in flood relief work;
• Organisation of relief parties;
• Other precautionary measures ; and
• Alternative drinking water supply arrangements;

B. ARRANGEMENTS DURING AND AFTER FLOODS:

• Organising rescue operations.
• Organising shelter for the people in distress, in case the efforts of the Civil authorities are considered inadequate, Army assistance should be requisitioned.
• Relief measures by non-official and voluntary organisations may be enlisted as far as possible.
• Organise relief camps.
• Provision of basic amenities like drinking water, sanitation and public health care and arrangements of cooked food in the relief camps.
• Making necessary arrangements for air dropping of food packets in the marooned villages through helicopters.
• Organising enough relief parties to the rescue of the marooned people within a reasonable time limit.
• Establish alternate communication links to have effective communication with marooned areas.
• Organising controlled kitchens to supply foods initially at least for 3 days.
• Organising cattle camps, if necessary, and provide veterinary care, fodder and cattle feed to the affected animals.
• Grant of emergency relief to all the affected people.
• Submission of daily reports and disseminate correct information through mass media to avoid rumors.
• Rehabilitation of homeless.
• Commencement of agricultural activities-desiltation, resowing.
• Repairs and reconstructions of infrastructural facilities such as roads, embankments, Resettlement of flood prone areas.
• Health measures.
• Relief for economic reconstruction.

DROUGHT

ACTION POINTS

A. EARLY WARNING SYSTEM.

B. CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR AGRICULTURE

• Crop life saving measures.
• The alternative cropping strategy.
• Compensatory Cropping Programme.
• Supply of Inputs.
• Provision for irrigation.
• Supply of Power.

C. DRINKING WATER

• A detailed contingency plan for supply of drinking water in rural areas to be formulated with technical help from the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and utilising if need be, the rigs and other capital equipment from the CGWB.
• Made adequate plans to supply drinking water in urban areas through bores, tanker special trains and other suitable measures.
• Monitor continuously rural and urban drinking water availability in drought affected areas.

D. WATER RESOURCES

• Prepare a water budget for each irrigation reservoir covering drinking water, kharif and rabi requirements and evaporation losses, after working cut a trade-off between kharif and rabi benefits from the available water.
• Undertake repairs of tubewells to make all tubewells operational and install additional tubewells taking care at the same time to prevent over-exploitation of and damage to ground water regime.
• Regulate supply to water-intensive industries, if necessary.
• Minimise evaporation losses in tanks and small reservoirs by using chemical restoratants subject to Health clearance.

E. EMPLOYMENT GENERATION

• Adequate scarcity relief works to be then up to generate the required employment.
• The funds available under employment generation scheme like J.R.Y., and scarcity relief etc. should be devetailed and integrated.
• Shelf of projects should be kept ready to be taken up for employment generation during drought.
• Drought proofing schemes to be identified and to be given higher priority.

F. PUBLIC HEALTH

• Disinfect drinking water sources to prevent the spread of water-borne diseases.
• Draw up plans to cope with likely epidemics.
• Constant surveillance of public health measures including immunisation to be undertaken.

G. WOMEN AND CHILDREN

• The nutritional requirements of all the children, expectant mothers and nursing mothers should be taken care of.

H. FODDER

• Assess fodder requirement in drought affected districts and locate areas where shortages are likely to occur and arrange for supplies from outside.
• Monitoring the prices of fodder in selected places/markets.
• Arrange to procure fodder from surplus States.
• State Forest Departments to arrange for the cutting and bailing of grasses in the forests, wherever possible to meet the demand from fodder deficit districts.
• Fodder cultivation to be encouraged wherever feasible.
• Ensure supply of molasses to cattle feed plants.
• Obtain from NDDB and other sources premired feed and urea-molasses-bricks to the extent necessary.