National Disaster Communication Network (NDCN)

During a disaster, the existing terrestrial communication networks are prone to failure. To address this risk, NDMA decided to set up the National Disaster Communication Network (NDCN). NDCN was planned as a network of networks by providing appropriate connectivity to the existing communication networks viz. NICNET, State Wide Area Networks (SWANs) and POLNET, etc., to various Emergency Operation Centres. For this an additional overlay network segment utilizing satellite communication will be established as VSAT network of NDMA. This VSAT Network will consists of a HUB and VSATs distributed all over the country. In Addition to the Emergency operation centres at National, State and District Levels, NDCN will be equipped with mobile/transportable communication systems to establish graded communication capability at the disaster sites.

Issues

The concept paper for the project was sent by NDMA to MHA in October 2007. However there were delays at various stages involved in the preparatory work of the project, since the submission of the concept note. As a result, the ambitious project of NDMA to provide networking for integration of various disaster management tools in the country was still at the preparation stage even after a lapse of more than four years.MHA stated (December 2012) that NDCN Project was very comprehensive and important, detailed consultations with various stake holders had to be held and accordingly the project was formulated to bring about effective coordination among various communication networks presently working in the field of Disaster Management. So it seems it will still take a long time before actually materializing. CAG report on disaster preparedness has also recommended that NDMA should ensure the implementation of NDCN at the earliest.

India Disaster Resource Network (IDRN)

MHA developed India Disaster Resource Network (IDRN) portal with the support of UNDP and launched it in 2004 through National Informatics Centre (NIC). IDRN is a web portal designed to systematically build up an organised information system of specialist equipment and expertise for disaster response. This is to enable disaster managers to identify the location of the resources and access it for disaster response with the minimum loss of time. The nodal authorities (District Collector or DDMA) are responsible for updating the inventory data.

Issues -

MHA entrusted (June 2008) NIDM with the responsibility of updating and maintaining the portal. CAG in its report on disaster preparedness noted that the portal was being managed without any dedicated staff. Data is monitored and maintained at the central level by National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM). Besides NIDM is responsible for the overall administration of the portal. At the same time; NIDM is not responsible for collection, updation & validation of data. Only district level authority is responsible for updating the data. Thus there are issues of coordination.

There is also no regular monitoring and emphasis of the data updation. It was mandatory to carry out a security audit of the portal periodically by a specialised external agency. But there is no such audit had taken place after 2004, despite repeated warnings by NIC. The inventory of resources is thus vulnerable and its reliability in a disaster situation is uncertain.

There are also challenges of poor connectivity between and within knowledge generating communities and user communities at various levels and there is a lack of a systemic institutional mechanism for collating, synthesizing and delivering knowledge products for decision making. Therefore, owing to the issues related to the respective networks, it seems that presently these are merely symbolic platforms for disaster management and a lot needs to be done before we can take full advantage of these.