The Indian Express 28.03.2013
Pune’s civic body to be nodal centre for disaster management in Satara too
Pune is among the group of cities, the local civic bodies of which have been chosen under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-sponsored Urban Risk Reduction (URR) project, to handle disaster management in the state.
PMC's good record in handling such issues has led the government to entrust the local civic body with the responsibility of doing the same in the neighbouring Satara district.
"The state government has communicated to the PMC that the disaster management centre in the city should be established as the nodal centre that would also take care if any disaster strikes Satara," said Vishal Tambe, chairman of the standing committee. Officials of PMC's disaster management cell would be required to meet the demands of Satara as well as rush with equipment when need be. PMC will also have the onus of training the district officials of Satara in rescue and relief operations during a disaster, he said.
According to the civic officer, PMC has procured some of the latest equipment for the purpose, whether it is for floods, fire, earthquakes or any other diaster. "Rescue boats required during floods, along with life-saving equipment, is available with PMC. Fire protection suit for fire fighters and mobile elevators for fire control would also be used if the situation so arises in Satara district," he added.
PMC has already started preparing the civic staff for disaster management. The staff is being trained in using equipment required to tackle crises. "The focus is to train staff on saving their own lives and that of their colleagues, as well as those who require their help," he added.
The PMC will further train citizens and set up teams of trained citizens in each electoral ward, so that they can contribute to rescue and relief operations during any disaster in their respective areas.
The other cities that have been included in the URR project are Mumbai, Thane, Nashik and Bhiwandi.
