Fortifying its defence against natural disasters and calamities, the Punjab Government on Monday demanded major enhancement in compensation under State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF), two-fold increase in damage compensation for loss of cattle heads and house, among other things.
The demand for increase in compensation was put forth by Revenue and Rehabilitation Minister Bikram Singh Majithia while participating in inaugural session of two-day “National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR)” held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at Vigyan Bhawan on Monday.
Considering the rising input costs in agriculture and its more vulnerability to adverse climatic challenges, Majithia underlined the need for major enhancement in present limit of Rs 6,000 per hectare compensation under SDRF in case of crop damage beyond 50 per cent.
He informed that Punjab government was paying Rs 5,000 per acre amounting to Rs 1.25 lakh per hectare.
Besides, Majithia also demanded to double damage compensation for loss of cattle heads and house due to various natural calamities.
Revenue Minister also demanded to raise five per cent bar on SDRF for creation of Disaster Response Infrastructure to minimum 20 per cent so that required infrastructure could be created to meet any eventuality due to any calamity strike.
In addition, Majithia also demanded for provision of at least 10 per cent of SDRF money for preparatory or emergency flood protection measures.
Majithia pointed out that considering the gravity of various disasters, it was high time to chalk out effective disaster management plans, both at national as well as state levels, to deal with any eventuality besides ensuring preventive measures.
He also advocated for a comprehensive techno-legal regime to limit ill effects of disasters through formation of effective policies, guidelines and bye-laws and their strict enforcement by relevant State departments, local bodies, agencies and private establishments.
Reiterating Punjab Government’s demand for setting up permanent National Disaster Management Centre at ludhiana, Majithia revealed that the State had already offered 50 acre of land free of cost to Central Government for this purpose.
Further, he added that the State Government has already started process for preparing detailed Disaster Management Plan at village, block, district, and State level and at the level of individual departments through active participation of various stakeholders.
In addition, State has already developed its Disaster Management Policy, Standard Operating Procedures, and Training Manuals for various stakeholders.
Majithia further said that the State has constituted its own State Disaster Response Force.
“600 persons of Punjab Armed Police have been trained by NDRF Battalion, Bathinda, for the purpose.
“More than 65,000 village volunteers and 1.30 lakh schools children along with teachers have been trained on search and rescue and life saving practices in 13 districts,” said he.
Revenue and Rehabilitation Minister Bikram Singh Majithia added that 10 district-level and one State-level emergency operation centre has been established, and the remaining 12 would be set up in one year, he added.