J-K to have own disaster management plan

After the devastating floods last year, Jammu and Kashmir will soon have its own disaster management plan, which will be implemented after the formation of the new government in the state.
Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, today chaired a meeting of the Executive Committee of State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) to approve the final draft of J&K State Disaster Management Plan (JKSDMP), an official spokesperson said.
The final draft has been prepared after incorporating suggestions from all the departments and stakeholders besides taking into consideration the recent devastating flood and previous disasters that have hit the state, he said.
The plan includes analysis of hazard, vulnerability profile, covering preventive, risk reduction aspects as well as response and recovery, he said.

"It emphasises on the specific role of government departments and other stakeholders at the community level disaster preparation," he said.
The plan stresses on a command structure that will deal with emergency situations, "It envisages establishing fully equipped emergency operation centers at secure locations and its integration with the administrative chain of command," the spokesperson said.
The state did not have a disaster manageement plan up until now and the decision was taken in the wake of devastating deluge last year in September which claimed 283 lives, as per official figures, and caused damage to property worth Rs 44,000 crore in the Valley.