Three experts are new NDMA members

New Delhi, December 21

The government today approved appointment of a scientist, an Armyman and a UN expert on disaster reduction as members of the revamped the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), which had previously seen mostly politicians and retired bureaucrats with no background of disaster management holding office.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the names of Kamal Kishore, a disaster reduction expert at the United Nations Development Programme, Lt Gen NC Marwah (retired), and DN Sharma, Director of Health, Safety and Environment Group at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, official sources said.

A formal order regarding their appointment is expected shortly, the sources said.

The three were selected from a list of 82 names received after the Home Ministry for the first time invited applications from subject experts.

The government had recently scaled down the rank of NDMA members from Minister of State (MoS) to Secretary in the central government. The Prime Minister is the ex-officio chairperson of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

The last NDMA had a Vice-Chairman with the rank of Union Cabinet Minister and nine other members. This time, the government has decided to appoint only four members, besides a Vice-Chairman.

Kishore is the New York-based adviser on disaster reduction and recovery at the UNDP and has been handling crisis prevention.

Sharma has been associated with NDMA for several years, helping the body draft guidelines for safety in radiation- related areas. — PTI