Maharashtra formulates drought plan, sets up separate disaster management authorities for Mumbai, suburbs

MUMBAI: The state has finally set up separate disaster management authorities for Mumbai city and Mumbai Suburban. The Bombay high court had on April 6 warned of action for “aggravated contempt” if Maharashtra government failed to constitute the two separate authorities by May 4. The state also formulated a drought plan.

So, on May 4, the state informed the court its relief and rehabilitation department has, complying with the HC orders, set up two separate authorities for the city and suburbs under the hat it has Disaster Management Act.

The high court had on April 6 issued, but also recalled, an order for issuing contempt notice to additional chief secretary, Megha Gadgil. It had recalled its order after government pleader A B Vagyani tendered a letter of the same date where Gadgil said the state had agreed to set up separate disaster management authorities for city and suburbs but needed 15 days to set them up. The order was passed in a petition filed in 2017 by Pune resident Sanjay Lakhe Patil for proper implementation of a Central legislation, the Disaster Management Act of 2005. Patil, president of NGO Marathwada Anushesh Nirmulan Aani Vikas Manch, had in his plea highlighted hardships faced by farmers due to drought in parts of Maharashtra and wanted the state to list the drought mitigation steps taken.

In January, the HC had given a slew of directions to the state to tackle droughts and also ensure better enforcement of disaster management plans with expeditious setting up of two separate authorities for city and suburbs of Mumbai. But the state set a common body for both.

The HC had last month noted the government had committed wilful breach of the court orders.

But, on May 4, the state submitted an affidavit to inform that it has also framed and “notified rules on April 19’’ for two separate authorities. The state has also prepared a separate Drought Plan which will be approved at the next meeting of the authority.

A state disaster response fund is also created where 75 percent funds for ‘relief on account of natural calamities’ will come from the Central government.

The government has also updated its State Disaster Management Plan as per the guidelines of the Natural Disaster Management Authority, the affidavit said.