State Disaster Management Plan (SDMP) Overview :

Disaster management seeks full and active involvement of many layers of participating organizations at different levels. The three focal levels include state, district and the site of the disaster. The state level agencies are basically involved in policy decisions, resource allocation and mobilisation, prioritization of response activities, budget allocation and monitoring. Authorities at district level or at the site of the incidence are responsible for decision making that is best suited to the ground realities. Uttarakhand is the first state to have separate Department of Disaster Management and to set up a dedicated autonomous institution, Disaster Mitigation and Management Centre (DMMC), for various disaster management related studies, capacity building and policy interventions. For ensuring disaster safety, particularly in lifeline structures, Hazard Safety Cell has been setup at in Uttarakhand at state level together with Hazard Safety Units at district level. After the enactment of Disaster Management Act, 2005 Disaster Management Authorities were setup at state and district level.  

Vision :

Disasters often nullify the efforts and hard work of several years in a matter of hours and even minutes and seconds. Loss of infrastructure and human lives rolls back the pace of economic growth and gains of development of several years are lost in a matter of seconds and minutes. Uttarakhand is vulnerable to and has been devastated repeatedly by a number of hazards that include earthquakes, landslides, floods, flash floods, droughts and avalanches. These have inflicted heavy loss of human lives, infrastructure, property and other resources. Even though it is not always possible to prevent occurrence of natural hazards, with effort and planning it is possible to reduce and even nullify the impact of these hazards. This document, State Disaster Management Plan (SDMP), is envisaged to standardize pre - and post - disaster practices and protocols so as to institute culture of disaster resilience in the state. Gains of development would thus not be sacrificed and resources invested in post – disaster activities would facilitate and boost economic growth and development.

Objectives :

Despite best efforts and intentions, absence of a well - defined plan often makes disaster response arbitrary and ineffective due to overemphasis on some aspects and omission of some other important and critical functions. Absence of a well - defined response structure also results in duplication of actions by various responding agencies and the same often complicates the situation, thereby compounding the impact of the hazard. SDMP aims at localizing the disaster impact to the extent possible and to contain its impact on human interests and environment. The plan envisages achieving the same through the following:  Assessment of the risk of various hazards to which the area is exposed.  Making masses aware of both disaster risk and risk reduction measures.Ensuring compliance of techno – legal regime that ensures disaster risk reduction. Making disaster risk reduction mandatory for one and all. Ensuring risk transfer. Capacity building for disaster risk reduction. Pre - planning of disaster response actions. Allocation of responsibilities to the participating agencies.  Effective management of resources; ascertaining status of existing resources and facilities and to assess their adequacy so as to identify the gaps and make efforts for plugging the same in time. Ensuring continued coordination and interaction between all the agencies responsible for response, including NGOs and Corporates, so as to ensure coordinated and effective response. Encouraging traditional mitigation measures and blending state of art technology with the same. Developing early warning systems backed by responsive and fail safe communications and information technology support. Identifying institutional strengthening and capacity building needs and implementing programs for doing the same. Putting in place systems for post – disaster societal support, monitoring and evaluation. Ensuring high level of preparedness at all times and at all levels. Establishing SDMP as an effective and efficient tool. Upgrading SDMP on regular basis, especially after every major disaster incorporating lessons learnt.

 Policy:

SDMP is based on the policy of saving human lives and the same is accorded the highest priority. The plan however also envisages minimization of human sufferings, loss of property, infrastructure and environment. This is in line with the State Government initiative to account for Gross Environment Product (GEP).

Theme :

The focus of SDMP is to ensure at all levels; village to district and to state level i) establishment of constructive and continuously updated and tested disaster preparedness, response and recovery plans, ii) that ensure prompt, efficient and coordinated response, iii) and bring forth maximum community participation in all disaster management related activities during every phase of the disaster management cycle, iv) and ensure high priority to all disaster management initiatives in the planning process at all levels so as to mainstream disaster management into development, and v) promote culture of prevention and preparedness so as to ensure disaster resilience in the state. SDMP also seeks hazard, risk and vulnerability assessment of the state to different hazards and envisages voluntary compliance of disaster risk reduction technologies and methodologies through sound and effective risk communication and awareness. The plan also addresses capacity building and preparedness related issues and outlines roles and responsibilities of each and every government department and other stakeholders involved in one or other manner in the process of disaster management. Risk transfer and recovery framework are included in the plan together with mechanism of regular testing, review and updation of the plan.

 Scope :

SDMP envisages to provide a consistent, state wide framework for enabling central, state and local governments and private and public sector institutions to come to a common platform and work together for the cause of mitigation, preparation, response and recovery so as to help the disaster affected community to recover from the effects of emergencies regardless of their cause, size, location, or complexity. In accordance with the provisions of Disaster Management Act, 2005, this plan is in effect at all times and applies to all levels of state government and its administrative subdivisions; districts, tehsils, blocks, panchayats and villages. The plan incorporates and complies with the principles and requirements of national and state laws, regulations and guidelines.