Disaster Management Bill tabled in Lok Sabha
- The Union Minister of State for Home introduced the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha.
Highlights:
- The Bill seeks to create a “disaster database" at national and State level
- It also makes provision for the constitution of “Urban Disaster Management Authority” for State capitals and large cities having municipal corporations, except the Union Territories of Delhi and Chandigarh.
- The database provided will include disaster assessment, fund allocation detail, expenditure, preparedness and mitigation plan, risk register according to type and severity of risk, and such other relevant matters, in accordance with such policy, as may be determined by the Union government.
- The Bill empowers the National Disaster Management Authority and the State Disaster Management Authorities to prepare the disaster plan at national level and State level
- Instead of the plans made by the National Executive Committee and the State Executive Committees earlier.
- The NDMA may also appoint experts and consultants as necessary to perform its functions.
- Opposition members opposed the Bill as it creates several authorities and also encroaches upon the functions of the State governments.
Prelims Takeaway
- Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill
- NDMA/SDMA