Centre directs states, UTs to boost civil defence amid tensions

NEW DELHI: Amid the hostile attacks by Pakistan on civilian targets here, particularly in areas adjoining the western border, the Centre has asked all state/UT governments to augment their civil defence set-up on priority, using emergency powers to expeditiously procure equipment like air raid sirens , temporary shelters or makeshift hospitals using tents or portacabins, medicine kits, fire fighting equipment etc.

Sources said Director General, Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards Vikram Srivastava has written to the state chief secretaries and UT administrators, citing the threat of hostile strikes by the neighbouring country and the need to prepare and equip the civil administration to protect lives, secure vital installations and minimise loss or damage to property.

The Centre, based on learnings from the May 7 mock drill to test the preparedness of civil defence set ups across the country, is already working to fill the gaps that showed up. The measures include installation or reactivation of air sirens and reviving hotlines between Indian Air Force and the district magitrates, who also double up as coordinators, civil defence, with the help of BSNL. The hotlines are secure lines used by IAF to communicate air raid warnings to the districts under threat, which is then disseminated to the public by sounding sirens.

In his latest communication to the states/UTs, the DG, Civil Defence asked the state/UT govts to invoke Section 11 of the Civil Defence Rules, 1968 — which empowers the state govts to take necessary measures for protection of persons and property from injury or damage or for maintaining essential services in the event of a hostile attack — to grant emergency procurement powers to its director, civil defence for implementation of the said precautionary measures.

“The funds of the local authority shall be applicable to the payment of the charges and expenses incidental to such compliance, and priority shall be given to such compliance over all other duties and obligations of the local authority,” Srivastava said while asking the state/UT govts to treat the matter as “most urgent”. A source elaborated that equipment like sirens or medicine kits could be procured through the state disaster management authority (SDMA) or the state/UT’s could make its own budgetary provision.