About the Disaster Management Act, 2005
- The DM Act’s stated mission and purpose are to manage disasters, which includes preparing mitigation strategies, capacity-building, and other activities.
- In India, it went into effect in January 2006.
- The Act calls for “effective catastrophe management, as well as matters connected with or ancillary thereto.”
- The Act establishes the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), which would be chaired by India’s Prime Minister.
- The Act enjoins the Central Government to Constitute a National Executive Committee (NEC) to assist the National Authority.
- All-State Governments are mandated to establish a State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA).
Powers are given to the Centre
- The power bestowed by DM Act on Central Government and NDMA are extensive.
- The Central Government, irrespective of any law in force (including over-riding powers) can issue any directions to any authority anywhere in India to facilitate or assist in disaster management.
- Importantly, any such directions issued by Central Government and NDMA must necessarily be followed by the Union Ministries, State Governments and State Disaster Management Authorities.
- In order to achieve all these, the prime minister can exercise all powers of NDMA (S 6(3)).
- This ensures that there is adequate political and constitutional heft behind the decisions made.