Introduction :

The Disaster Management Act 2005, provides the legal and institutional framework for disaster management in India at the National, State and District levels. In the National Policy of India, the primary responsibility of disaster management vests with the State Governments. The Government of India lays down policies and guidelines and provides technical, financial and logistic support while the District administration carries out most of the operations in collaboration with Central and State level agencies.

As per provisions of Disaster Management Act 2005, the State Governments shall notify establishment of State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA). The SDMA will lay out the policy of Disaster Management of the state.  The DM Act proposes that after establishment of the SDMA, the State Government shall notify formation of State Executive Committee (SEC). The State Executive Committee (SEC) will act as the coordinating and monitoring body for management of disaster in State as per the policy laid down by the SDMA.

West Bengal State Disaster Management Authority (WBSDMA) :

As per the Disaster Management Act 2005, WBSDMA is responsible for laying down policies and plans for disaster management in the State. Being the nodal agency for disaster management, it is also responsible to coordinate the implementation of the State Plan, recommend provision of funds for mitigation and preparedness measures and review the developmental plans of the different Departments of the State to ensure integration of prevention, preparedness and mitigation measures in their respective plan.

Hon’ble Chief Minister, Government of West Bengal is the chairperson of the West Bengal State Disaster Management Authority (WBSDMA). Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Department of Disaster Management& Civil Defenceis the vice Chairperson of WBSDMA and the Chief Secretary to the Government of West Bengal is the Ex-Officio Chief Executive Officer of WBSDMA.

State Executive Committee (SEC) :

According to the Notification No. 1284-FR August 2007-in exercise of the powers conferred by the sub-section (1) of section 20 of the Disaster Management Act 2005, The State Executive Committee has been constituted. The Chief Secretary to the Govt. of West Bengal is the Ex-officio chairman of the State Executive Committee.

It is constituted to assist the SDMA in the performance of its functions and to coordinate action in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the SDMA and ensure compliance with the directions issued by the State Government under the Disaster Management Act 2005.

Department of Disaster Management & Civil Defence :

The Department of Disaster Management and Civil Defence (DM & CD) has two wings namely Disaster Management Wing and Civil Defence Wing. The Department functions under the guidance of Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge of Disaster Management and Civil Defence Department.  This Department is generally headed by a senior officer in the rank of Additional Chief Secretary / Principal Secretary / Secretary, who is assisted by a number of Secretaries. Work of both the wing is monitored and coordinated by the Disaster Management and Civil Defence Secretariat. The Department executes the policies related to disaster management as per guidance of WBSDMA and SEC.

Two different Directorates namely Directorate of Disaster Management and Directorate of Civil Defence exists under the Department. The Directorate of Disaster Management is headed by the Director of Disaster Management, who is a Senior Officer of the State Civil Service. The Director is assisted by the Assistant Director and other officials. The Directorate of Civil Defence is headed by Director Civil Defence who is a senior IPS officer and is assisted by IGP and other officials.

District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) :

Under Section 25 of Disaster Management Act 2005, there is a District Disaster Management Authority in each District of a State. The District Disaster Management Authority implements the activities of Disaster Management as per direction of the Department. The District Disaster Management Authorities of eighteen (18) Districts under West Bengal were constituted vide notification numbers 1286-FR to 1303-FR dated 1st August, 2007 of Disaster Management Department, West Bengal. Another four DDMAs for newly formed four districts (4) were constituted vide notification number 3507-RL/O/VI/7M-108/07 dated 13th November, 2017 and DDMA for district of Kolkata was constituted vide notification number 115-RL/O/VI/7M-108/07 dated 18th January, 2018 of Disaster Management & Civil Defence Department, West Bengal.

Each DDMA is headed by the respective District Magistrate, and Commissioner for Kolkata Municipal Commission. The DDMA will also ensure that the Guidelines for prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response measures lay down by NDMA and SDMA are followed by all Departments of the State Government, at the District level and the Local Authorities in the District. DDMA will act as the planning, coordinating and implementing body for Disaster Management at District level and take all necessary measures for the purposes of Disaster Management. District Disaster Management Officer is placed in each district under District Magistrate to supervise all the works related to Disaster Management within the district. Sub Divisional Disaster Management Officer under the supervision of Sub Divisional Officer at the Sub Division level and Block Disaster Management Officer under the supervision of Block Development Officer at Block level manage the disaster management activity.