HYDERABAD: A day after conclusion of the ‘Vizag Partnership Summit’ on a positive note by attracting huge investments to the State in various sectors, Andhra Pradesh government, on Wednesday, began the process for establishing ‘AP State Disaster Response Force’ (APSDRF), probably to dispel fears among investors about the safety of their proposed industries in flood-prone coastal belt, particularly in the wake of Chennai floods.
The government issued orders creating the APSDRF comprising six companies (12 teams), each stationed at Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada (East Godavari district), Mangalagiri (Guntur district), Venkatagiri (Nellore district) and Kurnool for the purpose of specialist response to the threatening disaster situation or disaster. The new force will have its headquarters in the Amaravati capital region.
The State government sanctioned `23.58 crore for the newly created organisation to immediately procure essential vehicles and necessary equipment to carry out search & rescue operations during disasters.
“National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has conceptualised a three-tier Disaster Response Mechanism in the Country with NDRF at the Apex level to handle level-III and above disasters, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) as 1st Responder to handle Level-I and Level-II disasters at the State level and Civil Defence, Home Guards, Fire and Emergency Services at the District level,” the State government stated in its order.
The order further recalled that AP, with a long coastline of 974 km, is vulnerable to all kinds of natural disasters in addition to increasing number of manmade disasters. The incidence and magnitude of these disasters have increased in the past decade, it added.
“The frequent occurrence of these disasters is resulting not only in human loss but also in huge economic loss. The necessity to establish a specialised and well-trained force at state level has been felt for a long time. The experience of recent Hud Hud cyclone has further demonstrated the necessity of such specialised force,” the State government stated.
The APSDRF personnel will be drawn from APSP Battalions on deputation basis. “The DGP will take the necessary action for creation of APSDRF duly drawing the personnel from APSP Battalions and take steps for imparting necessary training to them,” the GO stated.
SDRF to be stationed in Amaravati
AP sets up State Disaster Response Force
It comprises of six companies & 12 teams stationed at various places in the State
Its headquarters will be in the Capital Region
The SDRF Co.s & Teams would be under over all command and control of Police department
However, the overall control and command of deployment, utilization and coordination of APSDRF during emergencies rests with Disaster Management Department
The SDRF has to be equipped and trained immediately to attend any kind of disasters in the state