Chandigarh, August 10 – Haryana Cabinet which met under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda here today approved the Haryana State Disaster Management Rules, 2010. These rules have been framed for the functioning of Haryana State Disaster Management Authority and District Disaster Management Authority.
Under these rules, a Secretariat to the State Authority under the administrative control of the State Government, a State Executive Committee, Sub-Committee of State Executive Committee as and when required and District Authorities will be established. The State Disaster Response Fund and the State Disaster Mitigation Fund will also be established. Similarly, the District Disaster Response Fund and the District Disaster Mitigation Fund will be established. Every department of State Government will make provision in its annual budget for the purpose of carrying out the activities and programmes in its disaster management programme.
The State Authority will meet atleast twice a year and the quorum of the authority will be of five members. In case a meeting is postponed due to lack of quorum, the subsequent meeting will not have any requirement of quorum. The state authority could call any member of the Executive Committee in its meeting to seek expert opinion. The term of the nominated members of the State Authority will be two years, unless removed by State Government before completion of their term. Any member of the State Authority could resign from the office of the State Authority by giving a notice in writing to the chairperson of the State Authority. The vacancy of members in the office of the State Authority arisen due to resignation, disqualification, death or otherwise will be filled by the fresh nomination. The official members of the State Authority will be governed by the conditions of their official position and non official members would be paid such allowance as decided by the State Government from time to time.
There will be a secretariat to the State Authority under the administrative control of the State Government. It will be responsible for planning and promoting training and research in the area of disaster management, documentation and development of state level information base relating to disaster management policies, prevention, mechanisms and mitigation measures. It will be responsible to assist the chairperson of the State Executive Committee in the performance of his functions. The State Government will engage the services of consultant from time to time as per its requirement and will also engage such other officers and employees on deputation, as it considers necessary for carrying out the functions of authority.
The State Executive Committee can constitute a sub-committee when required with the prior approval of the State Government. The State Executive Committee will meet at least twice a year and the quorum for holding a meeting of State Executive Committee would be three members including chairperson. In case a meeting is postponed due to lack of quorum, the subsequent meeting will not have any requirement of quorum. It can invite any officer of the State Government as a special invitee to attend its meeting. It will forward the minutes of every meeting to the State Authority.
The term of the nominated members of the District Authority will be two year unless removed by State Government before completion of term of two years. The other rules for removal of the members, their resignation or re-filling the vacancy of members will remain same as State Authority. The quorum of district authority will be of four members.
The account of the State Authority will include all sums of money received and expended by the State Authority including the funds receive and accounted for in the State Disaster Response Fund and State Disaster Mitigation Fund. The State Authority will prepare the annual report after the commencement of each financial year so in the annual expenditure and income statement which will include all money received and expenditure incurred and other subsidiary accounts. The books of accounts will remain open for inspection or audit by the officers of Central Government or State Government when considered necessary by them.
The annual report will include an account of activities of the State Authority during the previous financial year including a statement of aims and objectives and mission of State Authority, annual targets in physical and financial term set out for various activities with a brief review of actual performance with reference to those target, an administrative report on the activities of the State Authority during the previous financial year and an account of activities which are likely to be taken up during the next financial year. It will also include a summary of actual expenditure during the previous financial year and the year of report, as indicated by way of statement of income and expenditure as well as sources and application, important changes in policy and specific measures either taken or proposed to be taken, which have influenced or are likely to influence the functioning of the State Authority, important changes in the organizational set up of State Authority, other miscellaneous subjects as deemed fit by the State Authority or the State Government. Similarly, District Authorities will also follow the same procedure for preparing the annual reports.
The State Disaster Repose Fund will consist of grants made by the State Government and the Central Government or external assistance received by the State Authority, contributions and grants received from any person or institution for the purpose of disaster management including any donation or voluntary endowment. It will be utilized by the State Executive Committee to meet expenses for emergency response, relief and rehabilitation in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the State Government and the State Authority. Every department of State Government will make provision in its annual budget for the purpose of carrying out the activities and programmes in its disaster management programme.
The State Disaster Mitigation Fund will consist of grants made by the State Government and Central Government or external assistance received by the State Authority and contribution and grant received from any person or institution for the purpose of disaster management and income from the assets of the State Disaster Mitigation Fund. It shall be utilized to meet expenditure on projects for mitigation, including prevention of and preparedness for disaster. These projects will cover, inter alia, areas such as capacity building, public awareness, information and communication systems, including creation of infrastructure like the National or State Emergency Operations Centre, improving forecasting and early warning systems, creation of State Disaster Mitigation Resource Reserves, training, research and development, maintenance of ongoing public assets and infrastructure and amenities so created or existing. The District Disaster Response Fund and District Disaster Mitigation fund would also be constituted on the similar lines.
The Cabinet reviewed and approved Annual Administrative Reports on the working of Industries and Commerce Department for the year 2005-06, Haryana State Pollution Control Board for the year 2006-07, Public Works (Building and Roads) Department for the year 2007-08 and 2008-09, Haryana Agro Industries Corporation Ltd for the year 2008-09 and Horticulture Department for the year 2008-09.