Damage, Uncontrolled

Disaster management experts are wondering if the Centre has learnt anything from calamities past.

- Namrata Biji Ahuja

WHEN ODISHA WAS hit by the super cyclone in October 1999, Atal Bihari Vajpayee had just taken oath as prime minister for the third time. While Odisha remembers Vajpayee’s subsequent contribution in helping rebuild the shattered state, Gujaratis have memories of Vajpayee doling out concessions like a five-year excise duty holiday on items manufactured in quake-hit Kutch in 2001. Today, Kerala stands devastated by the floods, and all eyes are on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and what he can offer.

It is said there are lessons to be learnt from history. But disaster management experts are wondering if anything has been learnt. When the tsunami hit the Indian coasts in 2004, the United Progressive Alliance government gave a clarion call to recognise disaster management as a national priority. In 2005, the Disaster Management Act was passed unanimously in Parliament, paving way for setting up the National Disaster Management Authority headed by the prime minister. This was followed by state- and district-level disaster management authorities.

General (retd) N.C. Vij, the first vice chairman of NDMA, rued the fact that the apex disaster management body has been reduced in status and authority. “The idea was to create a national authority with experts from all fields—like policymakers, doctors and armed forces—giving them statutory powers to undertake mitigation measures, capacity building in states and districts and ensuring rules and regulations are followed,” he said. “The aim was to develop capabilities to handle both natural and manmade disasters and threats from chemical and biological warfare.’’