Making of the 'Eight' Delhi
N.K.Jain
Director, Joint Assistance Centre, New Delhi
With three metropolitan towns - Delhi, Mumbai and Calcutta among the world's twenty most populated cities and each one exceeding one crore and a large floating population , if urgent action is not taken to stem the rot, the future, not surprisingly is dark.
Historically we believe there were seven Dillies. Are we on the verge of creating the eight? A few years back Joint Assistance Centre brought out a collection of critical essays, "On the Archaeology of Development." Today we face multiple hazards, each one capable of destroying major areas of the metropolis. Like drought, the environmental hazards are slowly reducing, at least health wise, our capabilities to cope with any emergency.
The development process is leading into a mad rush of creating industries, some of them lethal. Bhopal tragedy is not yet a history and is too recent to be forgotten. Peace in South Asia is in peril. Abductions, sabotage, terrorism are on the rise. In such a scenario should the citizens of Delhi and indeed the national Capital region, remain oblivious to the gravity. Nuclear, biological, and chemical emergencies are visible, though obliquely.
Following 1965 Indo-Pak War, and subsequently the 1971 Bangladesh liberation struggle, the Civil Defense received proper attention. A plan was also developed but is secret for obvious reasons of national security. Even in Gurgaon, there is a plan with the police department that plans for the sensitive locations.
At the national level, there is a contingency plan to deal with disaster but again it is a secret. Plans have been made off Delhi at least by two consultants, in the wake of a Public Interest Litigation in the High Court. The experts have rejected these despite some government notifications. Most recently, the Police Commissioner of Delhi had made a presentation to the Lieutenant Governor on the Delhi Disaster Plan.
During the 1980s India had four Mobile Civil Emergency Forces, one located in Delhi, Equipped and trained to handle emergencies of all types. However, they were unceremoniously dumped, since there was , neither a political will nor a public opinion, the burial was unsung.
A system has been in place, to deal with emergencies. Successive Finance Commissions have addressed to the task of relief, quantum and manner of its dispensation. Even the Eleventh Finance Commission has not fully addressed to the needs. Government of India's various departments tend to act in insulated chambers and presents an example of administrative inefficiency and "I do not care" attitude.
Ministry of Agriculture has decided to observe second Wednesday of October as National Day for Disaster Reduction and Ministry of Environment and Forests observes December 4 as Chemical Disaster Preparedness Day. Ministry of Home Affairs observes April 14 as Fire Services Day and December 6 as Civil Defense Raising Day.
There is a National Civil Defense College and a National Fire Service College at Nagpur. Neglect of these institutions is to be seen to be believed. Now the Cabinet secretariat has decided to set up two Rapid Action Disaster Response Teams in Delhi and Nagpur.
There has been the spate of Faculties of Disaster Management. Overnight we have host of Professors in DM Where are they located? Not in Rural Development, Home or Police or even Defense or Environment or Agriculture!
Cutting the long story short, it can be concluded that the 'political will' in preparing for future disasters is equally lacking, as in case of a system of relief administration, if not more.
A strong public opinion needs to be created. The two-day workshop on "Is Delhi Prepared" is a landmark event. However, "the System" does not ever take note of the recommendations ever. For at least a decade, serious efforts have been made and report submitted. A quick glance will reveal submitted. A quick glance will reveal all pervading common concern. Yet, most tended to be one time initiative.
This workshop in September "Is Delhi Prepared" promises to be different. I wish to quote here noted film Director Mahesh Bhatt, who in his introduction to the documentary, "The calamity That Was" - a story of recent Orissa Super Cyclone said, "Time has now come when together we should answer some serious questions that are raised in this documentary. Making a secure future for everyone is a responsibility that we will have to share. After all it is our vested interest also."
As trustees of the people's trust we have a duty to perform and be answerable. Like the freedom struggle, some sacrifice is called for. In the days of the freedom struggle, parents hoped that a Bhagat Singh would be born in their house. Today, sadly, the attitude appears to be "Bhagat Singhs are honorable, but let him be born in my neighbor's house, not mine."