The Government introduced the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024 in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
The Bill, introduced by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, seeks to amend the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The Bill is also scheduled to be taken up for introduction in the Upper House.
The Disaster Management Act, 2005 was enacted to provide for the effective management of disasters.
The purpose of the Act was to put in place necessary institutional mechanisms for drawing up and monitoring the implementation of disaster management plans.
The Bill also aimed to strengthen the efficient working of the National Disaster Management Authority and the State Disaster Management Authorities.
It will empower the authorities to prepare the disaster plan at national level and state level instead of the National Executive Committee and the State Executive Committee. The bill seeks to create a disaster database at national and state level.
The Bill has provisions for the constitution of Urban Disaster Management Authority for state capital and large cities having municipal corporations.
It also has provisions for the constitution of the State Disaster Response Force by the state government.
The bill intends to bring more clarity and convergence in the roles of Authorities and Committees working in the field of disaster management.
