Why in News?
- The National Disaster Management Authority received the final inputs from disaster management officials and researchers on the draft of India’s first national policy for the mitigation and rehabilitation of the people affected by river and Coastal Erosion.
- The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had directed NDMA to draft a policy based on the 15th Finance Commission’s report for 2021.
- Until now, most policies in the country only address displacement after abrupt rapid-onset disasters like floods and cyclones.
Various Recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission Report-
- It had for the 1st time emphasised on rehabilitation and resettlement for people displaced by the river and coastal erosion, in view of the increasing danger due to climate change.
- It introduced mitigation measures to stop erosion under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF), with an allocation of Rs 1,500 crore (2021-26).
- For the resettlement of displaced people affected by erosion, it grants Rs 1,000 crore for the same period under the National Disaster Relief Fund.
- It highlighted that states must follow timelines for mitigation and rehabilitation projects without any delays, projects under NDRF and NDMF should be sanctioned in such a manner that they can be completed within the award period of the Commission.
Key Features of Draft Policy-
- Fund Allocation- For both funds namely, NDRF and NDMF, state governments will have to avail resources on a cost-sharing basis, contributing 25 percent to the costs of mitigation and resettlement related to coastal and river erosion.
- Though, north-eastern states have to only contribute 10 percent of state funds.
- National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) will coordinate the allocations and expenses under NDRF and NDMF at the national level for mitigation and rehabilitation.
- Nodal Agency- District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMA) would be the nodal agency to carry out the measures, assisted by other district agencies and a specific panchayat-level committee.
- The DDMA will prepare mitigation and rehabilitation plans and submits them to the SDMAs, from where the suggested measures will be appraised by NDMA and eventually submitted to the home ministry.
- A high-level committee of the ministry will then sanction the disbursal of funds.
- Comprehensive Hazard Assessments- Detailed hazard assessments performed by central agencies like the National Centre for Coast Research, Central Water Commission (CWC) etc., and high-resolution LiDAR data available with National Remote Sensing Centre should be made available to the SDMAs.
- These should be made available in easy-to-access geographic information systems (GIS) formats by the NDMA.
- Mapping Coastal and River Erosion- The policy affirms mapping coastal and river erosion impacts and coming up with a database of distinct challenges confronted by the affected and vulnerable habitations.
- Impact and Vulnerability Assessments- The draft policy also suggests impact and vulnerability assessments of regions threatened by coastal and river erosion to be undertaken periodically, which will be spearheaded by SDMAs in coordination with the state departments and DDMAs.
About NDMA-
- National Disaster Management Authority is India’s apex statutory body for disaster management.
- The NDMA was formally created on 27th September 2006, by the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The Prime Minister is its chairperson, and it has 09 other members. One of the nine members is designated as Vice-Chairperson (VC).
- The key responsibility for the management of disaster rests with the State Government concerned. Though, the National Policy on Disaster Management puts in place an enabling environment for all i.e., the Centre, state and district.