In light of Tripura’s vulnerability to earthquakes and other natural disasters as a seismic zone 5 region, the Government of Tripura has been actively pursuing initiatives to combat and mitigate the impacts of natural calamities.
A meeting on disaster management was held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday. The meeting was presided over by Union Home Minister Amit Shah along with the participation of ministers of disaster management from various states and Union Territories including Tripura.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha highlighted the state’s proactive approach in dealing with potential crises. He mentioned that since the devastating floods of 2018 and 2019, Tripura has not experienced any severe flood situations. Nonetheless, the government has taken the initiative to train its officials on disaster mitigation proposals. The Chief Minister expressed the need for expedited utilization of the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) and urged the Government of India to implement disaster mitigation training for its officials.
Furthermore, Chief Minister Prof. Saha shared that the state has established four companies comprising 552 personnel as part of the State Disaster Response Force. Out of these, 440 personnel have already undergone basic training, while efforts are underway to train the remaining members. He also sought support from the National Disaster Response Force for providing advanced training to officials who have completed the basic training. To bolster the state’s disaster management capabilities, the government has decided to create 20 additional permanent posts.
In line with the guidelines of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Tripura has been implementing schemes to strengthen its disaster management authorities. Additionally, the Chief Minister mentioned Tripura has formulated the ‘Tripura Fire and Emergency Services Act 2022’ based on the Model Fire Bill of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The estimated budget for the state, as decided during the meeting of the Fire Advisory Council in June 2021, stands at Rs. 118 crore.
Emphasizing effective implementation, the chief minister stated that all central government schemes on disaster management are being properly executed in Tripura. The state is also actively updating information on the National Disaster Management Information System portal. Currently, there are 1000 trained Apada Mitra (disaster volunteers) in the state, and the government aims to maintain a ratio of one Apada Mitra per 50 individuals.
Chief Minister Prof. Saha highlighted the integration of disaster management into various training programs and schools, indicating the growing recognition of its importance. Formerly limited to Agartala, Civil Defence activities now encompass all districts, with 3000 volunteers trained in the past two years. Furthermore, he appealed to the central government to consider implementing a project that provides a one-time grant for strengthening disaster infrastructure and procuring additional equipment.