State to set up specialised response force

THE STATE Government has decided to set up a specialised disaster response force.

However, the National Disaster Management Authority has already decided to place one of the eight national disaster response forces at NOIDA to provide people with immediate relief in case of man-made or natural disasters.

The National Disaster Management Authority has also decided to ensure that the disaster management is incorporated to execute all the development projects.

Vice-Chairman National Disaster Management Authority General NC Vij stated this while talking to media persons here on Thursday.

Vij also held a meeting with Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, Minister for Revenue Ambika Chaudhary and senior officers. General Vij also paid a visit to Baharaich to review arrangements being made to fine-tune disaster management.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister said that a detailed report of Disaster Management Project had been sent to Centre and the same be approved immediately.

General Vij said that the eight disaster management battalions would have 144 specialised response teams. Uttar Pradesh would have the distinction of having first such disaster management battalion, he said. He added that the teams would have the facility of moving by air or on ground to meet any eventuality.

An exercise would also be conducted at NOIDA to train the disaster management teams for quick response in the case of chemical disasters, he said. Another exercise would be carried out at Gurgaon, he said. At the same time, two separate funds titled National Disaster Response Fund and the National Disaster Mitigation Fund were also being set up, he said. The modalities and guidelines to manage the two funds were being worked out, he added.