INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISM

In exercise of the power conferred by sub-section (1) of under section 25 of the Disaster Management Act 2005, every state government shall by notification in the official gazette, establish a “District Disaster Management Authority”, for every district in the State. The DDMA shall consist of the following members, not exceeding seven, as prescribed by the State government, and unless the rules otherwise provide:

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1. Powers & Functions of District Authority:

The District Authority shall act as the district planning, coordinating and implementing body for disaster management and take all measures for the purposes of disaster management in the district in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the National Authority and State Authority. The following are the powers and functions of the District Authority (as per clause 30 of the DM Act 2005). The National Disaster Management Act 2005, Clause 41 specifies the function of local authorities with regard to Disaster Management. It enlists following functions: • Ensure that its officers and employees are trained for disaster management;

• Ensure that the resources relating to DM are so maintained as to be readily available for use in the event of any threatening disaster situation or disaster.
• Ensure all construction projects under it or within its jurisdiction conform to the standards and specifications laid down for prevention of disasters and mitigation by National Authority, State/UT Authority and District Authority; and
• Carry out relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in the affected areas in accordance with the State/UT Plan and District Plan.

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2. Preparedness and Prevention Phase:

i. Prepare District Disaster Management Plan (DDMP) including district response plan for the district.
ii. Coordinate and monitor the implementation of the national policy, state policy, national plan, state plan and district plan.
iii. Ensure that areas in the district vulnerable to disasters are identified and measures for the prevention of disasters, mitigation of efforts are undertaken by the departments of the Government at the district level as well as by the local authorities.
iv. Ensure that the guidelines for prevention of disaster, mitigation of its effects, preparedness and response measures are followed by all departments of the government at district level and the local authorities in the district.
v. Give directions to different authorities at the district level and local authorities for preparing, mitigating, responding to disaster events.
vi. Lay down guidelines for disaster management plans by the department of Government at the district level and local authorities in the district.
vii. Monitor the implementation of disaster management plans prepared by the Departments of the Government at district level.
viii. Lay down guidelines for mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into the development plans and projects of the departments of the Government at the district level.
ix. Monitor the implementation of measures in clause (viii).
x. Review the state of capabilities for responding to any disaster or threatening disaster situation in the district and give directions to the relevant departments or authorities for up-gradation as may be necessary.
xi. Review preparedness measures and give directions to the concerned departments at district levels or other concerned authorities where necessary for bringing the preparedness measures to the levels required for responding effectively to any disaster or threatening disaster situation.
xii. Organize and coordinate specialized training programmes for different levels of officers, employees and voluntary rescue workers in the district.
xiii. Facilitate community training and awareness programmes for prevention of disaster or mitigation with the support of local authorities, governmental and non-governmental organizations.

3. Mitigation Phase:

i. Set-up, maintain, review and upgrade the mechanism for early warnings and dissemination of proper information to public.
ii. Prepare, review and update district level response plans and guidelines
iii. Coordinate response to any threatening disaster situation or disaster.
iv. Ensure that the departments of Government at the district level and the local authorities prepare their response plans in accordance with the district response plans.
v. Lay down guidelines for, or give direction to, the concerned department of the government at the district level or nay other authorities within the local limits of the district to take measures to respond effectively to any threatening disaster situation or disaster.
vi. Advise, assist, and coordinate the activities of the departments of the government at the district level, statutory bodies, and other governmental and non-governmental organizations in the district engaged in the disaster management.
vii. Coordinate with, and give guidelines to, local authorities in the district to ensure that measures for the prevention or mitigation of threatening disaster situation or disaster in the district are carried out promptly and effectively.
viii. Provide necessary technical assistance or give advice to the local authorities in the district for carrying out their functions.
ix. Review development plans prepared by the departments of the government at the district level, statutory authorities or local authorities with a view to make necessary provisions therein for prevention of disaster or mitigation
x. Examine the construction in any area in the district and, if it is of the opinion that the standards for the prevention of disaster or mitigation laid down for such construction is not being or has not been followed, may direct the concerned authority to take such action as may be necessary to secure compliance of such standards.
xi. Identify buildings and places which could, in the event of any threatening disaster situation or disaster, be used as relief centres or camps and make arrangements for water supply and sanitation in such buildings or places.
xii. Establish stockpiles of relief and rescue materials or ensure preparedness to make such materials available at short notice.
xiii. Provide information to the State Authority relating to different aspects of disaster management.
xiv. Encourage the involvement of non-governmental organizations and voluntary social-welfare institutions working at the grassroots level in the district for disaster management.
xv. Ensure communication systems are in order, and disaster management drills are carried out periodically.
xvi. Perform such other functions as the State government or State Authority may assign to it or as it deems necessary for disaster management in the district.

RRP

4. Response and Recovery Phase:
i. Give directions for the release and use of resources available with any Department of the Government and the local authority in the district.
ii. Control and restrict vehicular traffic to, from and within, the vulnerable or affected area.
iii. Control and restrict the entry of any person into, his/her movement within and departure from, a vulnerable or affected area.
iv. Remove debris, conduct search and carry out rescue operations.
v. Provide shelter, food, drinking water an essential provisions, healthcare and services.
vi. Establish emergency communication systems in the affected area.
vii. Make arrangements for the disposal of the unclaimed dead bodies.
viii. Recommend to any Department of the Government of the State or any authority or body under that Government at the district level to take such measures as are necessary.
ix. Require experts and consultants in the relevant fields to advise and assist as it may deem necessary.
x. Procure exclusive or preferential use of amenities from any authority or person.
xi. Construct temporary bridges or other necessary structures and demolish structures which may be hazardous to public or aggravate the effects of the disaster.
xii. Ensure that the non-governmental organizations carry out their activities in an equitable and non-discriminatory manner.
xiii. Take such other steps as may be required or warranted to be taken in such a situation.

DDMA

5. DDMA Committee at District and Sub-Divisional Levels:
All districts should mandatorily have at the District Disaster management Committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner/District Magistrate, Committees at the level of Sub-Divisions headed by the Sub-Divisional Magistrates and Tehsil/Block Level Committees headed by the Tehsilder/BDO. Leh district has already constituted the committees as given below:

6. Monitoring, Evaluation and Update Of DDMP:

The District Disaster Management Plan (DDMP) provides a framework and direction to the government agencies for all phases of disaster management cycle which must be reviewed and revised periodically. The backbone of maintaining the plan is carrying out mock drills and updating the plan based on lessons learnt thereof. This is a method of identifying the gaps and putting in place a system to fill the same. Regular updating of stakeholder details, contact numbers and resource inventory is another inherent and essential function of plan maintenance.

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