Disaster mgmt Bill tabled in Lok Sabha

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 1
A Bill which seeks to strengthen the working of disaster management authorities at the national and state level was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday as Opposition members questioned the constitutionality of the measure. The Bill provides to make provision for constitution of “Urban Disaster Management Authority” for state capitals and large cities having Municipal Corporation. Also, it makes provisions for constitution of “State Disaster Response Force” by the state government.
Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari pointed how this separate ‘Urban Disaster Management Authority’, excludes the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh. The Bill undermines the constitutional scheme of the federal structure in the country, he said.
The Bill was later introduced by a voice vote. Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, who introduced the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, asserted that there is no interference in the rights of the states and disaster management is the first responsibility of the states.