Wards don’t need separate disaster management department: BMC officials

The landslide that took place near Kemps Corner in July last year. File pic

The need for a full-fledged disaster management department has once again come to the fore, after the landslides that took place during this monsoon season. However, senior civic officials said that the authorities are not too keen on such a demand, as decentralisation may only lead to more confusion.

The BMC had carried out a series of meetings, following landslides in the city, where it was discussed how efforts can be made to ensure that the lives of those residing near the edges of the retaining walls, could be saved. Officials had discussed the need for constant monitoring, including pruning trees around the retaining wall, and drilling holes in the walls to release the water coming in from hill tops. A civic official said, "Ward officers have been claiming that if they had a dedicated disaster team to evaluate the damage and work on mitigation measures beforehand, these natural disasters can be avoided."

But the idea doesn't seem to have gone too well with senior officials. A senior civic officer said that as of now, there is no such plan for a separate disaster unit in ward offices. "We already have relief teams available. Any new unit will only cause more confusion."