Cabinet to take up proposal to amend Disaster Management Act

NEW DELHI: A proposal to amend 2005 Disaster Management Act will be taken up by the Union cabinet ahead of the upcoming Parliament session, officials said, adding that the amendments have been made based on the recommendations of task force headed by former IAS officer P K Mishra in 2013. A Gujarat cadre officer, Mishra is currently the principal secretary to PM Narendra Modi.
The task force headed by Mishra had conducted a detailed review of the 2005 Act and suggested several changes to strengthen National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). “Several recommendations like preparation of National Plan by NDMA have already been taken up while other directions on amendment into the DM Act will be finalised soon,” said an official.

The 2005 Act mandates creation of new institutions and assignment of specific roles for Central, state and local governments. Under provisions of the Act, the NDMA has been established under the chairmanship of the prime minister and National Executive Committee (NEC) of Secretaries has been created to assist the NDMA in the performance of its functions.