Disasters in Madhya Pradesh :
The State of Madhya Pradesh is vulnerable to natural disasters owning to its unique geo-climatic features. The major natural hazards for the State are earthquake, floods, drought, fire, etc. The State is also vulnerable to manmade disaster. There are more than 400 industries are working in various districts. The State has witnessed a great manmade disaster such as the Bhopal Gas Tragedy 3rd December, 1984 etc. These disasters result in loss of life and property public and private and disrupt economic activity, besides causing immense misery and hardship to the affected population.
Disasters are of many types. The High Powered Committee (HPC) constituted by the Central Government has identified thirty-one disasters and grouped them in five categories. On the basis of available, data disasters frequently occurring in the State are as follows: Drought, Floods, Earthquake, Hailstorm, Fire, Industrial and chemical disasters, Accidents, Epidemic, Land Slide, Cyber Naxalism and other manmade disasters etc.
Vulnerability of Madhya Pradesh :
The Madhya Pradesh vulnerable to various natural and manmade disasters. Looking towards the vulnerability it’s very important to address all in a holistic manner for sustainable development. There are 28 districts that come under Zone –III and 22 districts come under Zone – II of Earthquake. Likewise in last 26 years there are 32 districts of the State affected from the flood and around 7 districts highly affected from drought. Other than the Natural disasters the State is also affected by the manmade disaster the Bhopal gas tragedy was one of the worst manmade disaster in history of the State. The tragedy took an immediate toll of about 3000 1 innocent lives and left thousands and thousands of innocent citizens physically impaired or affected in various degrees. There are around 400 factories are working in the State out of which around 256 are registered with Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board. The Madhya Pradesh is also one of the States where more peoples die in road accidents in the year ending December 2008 around 510542 pupils were injured and around 6670 pupils died. Each disaster has a different character and therefore requires a different plan of action for prevention and mitigation.
Government Efforts :
In response to this, the Government of Madhya Pradesh has decided to formulate a policy that addresses various aspects of management of these disasters in a systematic and sustained manner. In 2002 Department of Revenue of the State Government has issued the Disaster Management Policy. The policy has given the framework to deal with various types’ disasters. Later in 2005 Disaster Management Act 2005 enacted in the Country. This act has given institutional structure at various levels i.e. National, State and District. As stipulated in the Act, at the State level, State Government has constituted the State Disaster Management Authority under the chairmanship of honorable Chief Minister of the State. Likewise State Executive Committee (SEC) of SDMA under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary of the State.
At the district level District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) under the chairmanship of District collector and co-chaired by the chairman of Zilla Parisad. There shall be a district disaster management officer who will coordinate all activities in the district and shall in charge of Emergency Operation Centers. In the State the Home Department of Government of Madhya Pradesh has been identified as nodal department for disaster management. And also Home department is responsible for servicing the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA). Due to change in institutional structure and nodal department there was a need a new DM Policy for the State. Hence keeping new arrangements for disaster management in view the DM Policy has revised accordingly. It will be in consonance rules and provisions with the DM Act 2005 also will be in tune with the National Planning Committee, Finance Commission, Vth report of the II Administrative report