Notified Disasters in India

Context

There have been calls for heat waves to be declared a notified disaster under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

About 

• India, a country with various geographical features, is vulnerable to several types of disasters.
• The Disaster Management Act (2005) enacted in the wake of the Orissa super-cyclone (1999) and the Tsunami (2004), defines a disaster as a ‘catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave prevalence’ springing up from ‘natural or man-made reasons’.
• Currently, there are 12 categories of disasters that are notified under this Act.
• These are cyclones, drought, earthquake, fire, flood, tsunami, hailstorm, landslide, avalanche, cloudburst, pest attack, and frost and cold waves.

Funds under DMA (2005)

• Disaster Management Act (2005) allows states to attract money from the two funds, namely the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) at the national and state level respectively.
• The states first utilise the funds available inside the SDRF, and only if the value of the catastrophe is unmanageable with the SDRF, states are trying to find the fund from the NDRF.
• While the entire money of the NDRF comes from the Central Government, States contribute 25% of the fund in the SDRF(10% in case of special category states), the rest comes from the Centre.
• The money in those finances can’t be used for any motive other than reaction and management of notified disasters.

Heatwaves in India

• • A Heat Wave is a duration of abnormally excessive temperatures, more than the normal maximum temperature that takes place at some stage in the summer season in the North-Western parts of India.
  • The extreme temperatures and resultant atmospheric conditions adversely affect people living in these regions as they cause physiological pressure, from time to time ensuing in demise.

• Criteria for Heat Waves (as per the IMD)

• • Heat waves need not be considered until the maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40°C for Plains and at least 30°C for Hilly areas.
    • When the regular maximum temperature of a station is less than or same to 40°C
  • Heat Wave: Departure from ordinary is 5°C to 6°C
  • Severe Heat Wave: Departure from regular is 7°C or more. When ordinary maximum temperature of a station is more than 40°C
  • Heat Wave: Departure from regular is 4°C to 5°C
  • Severe Heat Wave: Departure from ordinary is 6°C or more. When the real most temperature remains 45°C or more irrespective of normal maximum temperature, heat waves must be declared.

Source: The Indian Express

UPSC Mains Practice Question 

Q. With reference to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines, discuss the measures to be adopted to mitigate the impact of the recent incidents of cloudbursts in many places of Uttarakhand. (2016)

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