Ministries to handle disasters; MoD for avalanche, Agri for cold wave, drought
To ensure effective disaster management, the Government of India has assigned specific ministries and departments the responsibility for monitoring, issuing early warnings, prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and capacity building related to various types of disasters, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
### Assigned Responsibilities for Disaster Management
– **Ministry of Defence**
Tasked with handling avalanches and oil spills.
– **Ministry of Earth Sciences**
Responsible for providing early warnings for cold waves, cyclones, tornadoes, earthquakes, heatwaves, lightning, tsunamis, hailstorms, and heavy rainfall.
– **Ministry of Health and Family Welfare**
Manages biological disasters.
– **Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare**
Takes charge of disasters such as frost and cold waves, droughts, hailstorms, and pest infestations.
– **Ministry of Jal Shakti**
Oversees floods and glacial lake outburst floods.
– **Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs**
Handles urban flooding (excluding early warnings).
– **Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change**
Responsible for forest fires, industrial, and chemical disasters.
– **Ministry of Mines**
Manages landslides.
– **Department of Atomic Energy**
Deals with nuclear and radiological emergencies.
### Aim and Legal Framework
The primary aim of this structured allocation is to minimize casualties and public inconvenience during emergencies. The notification, issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, states:
> “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) read with clause (ha) of sub-section (2) of section 35 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (53 of 2005), the central government hereby notifies the Ministries or Department of the government of India which shall have the responsibility for monitoring, early warning, prevention, mitigation, preparedness and capacity building with regard to disaster arising from various hazards.”
This strategic division of responsibilities is expected to enhance the government’s disaster preparedness and response mechanisms throughout the country.
*(With inputs from PTI)*
https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/ministries-to-handle-specific-disasters-ministry-of-defence-for-avalanche-agriculture-for-cold-wave-drought-and-hailstorm-23595403
