Team Herald
PANJIM: Admitting that the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) lacks standard operating procedures, the State government is working towards setting up a complete independent mechanism to deal with disasters.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said he would like to draw up a standard operating procedure for SDMA in line with those followed in the armed forces.
“Basic problem in disaster management is that the disaster has to be tackled by persons who may also face the brunt of the disaster. Then only one can cope up with the disaster,” Parrikar said, clarifying that the water that washed into the shacks along the coastal belt was not part of ‘disaster’.
Parrikar said the incident reportedly took place on the day which was also ‘super moon’. “Even if there was no cyclone, you would have got the high tide and water would have entered the shack. Basically there is no cyclonic damage as such,” he said.
The Chief Minister emphasised that the State needs an independent mechanism. “We are working on it and the new system would be in place by March next year,” he said.
Parrikar admitted that currently there are no standard operating procedures laid down SDMA. “I have asked the Revenue Minister to work out standard operating procedures. The biggest problem with us in every aspect there are no standard operating procedures in place and hence people don’t know what to do,” he said.
“Standard operating procedures is the best thing I have learnt from army…even to shave they have standard operating procedures,” the former Defence Minister said.
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Rs 5 crore for cyclone-affected in Lakshadweep
The State government has decided to contribute Rs five crore as a helping hand to those affected by the cyclone in Lakshadweep.
“The real damage has taken place at Lakshadweep and the cabinet has decided to give five crore to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for helping Lakshadweep and other states,” Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said.
