MHA list misses Tarn Taran, Punjab to proceed with drill

Chandigarh: The border district of Tarn Taran was excluded from the Union home ministry's list of 15 Punjab districts slated for civil defence mock drills under the nationwide "Operation Abhyaas" on Wednesday. However, Punjab will hold the drill in the border district, said a Punjab government functionaryThe official told TOI, "Actually in 2005, a list of hazard and threat prone civil defence districts was prepared, which also included threat prone towns categorised as civil defence districts. Tarn Taran, which was part of Amritsar district at that time, was not in that list."Tarn Taran was formed as 19th district of Punjab on June 16, 2006. The official said since Tarn Taran was a border district, the mock drill has to be conducted there."It was a bonafide omission and the district has been added in the list. We will hold the mock drill in the district," said Tarn Taran deputy commissioner Rahul.The issue came up for discussion on Wednesday during a video-conference of Punjab chief secretary KAP Sinha and additional chief secretary (home) Alok Shekhar with the deputy commissioners of border districts.In another meeting held by the MHA with the chief secretaries and other officials of the state, the MHA clarified that states could make additions to the list, depending upon local situations, said another Punjab official present in the meeting.The 15 districts in Punjab listed by the MHA are border districts Amritsar, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Fazilka; and Jalandhar, Barnala, Bathinda, Faridkot, Ludhiana, Rupnagar (Ropar), SAS Nagar (Mohali), Patiala, Sangrur and Hoshiarpur.Hoshiarpur deputy commissioner Anshika Jain said, "We have received the instructions. We will start the mock drill at 4 pm. We will sound the siren at 7 pm and enforce the blackout at 8 pm."A note prepared by Punjab govt on the MHA meeting Tuesday reads, "The objective of the meeting was to assess, reinforce and bring into ready-to-use condition all aspects of the civil defence force which derives from the Civil Defence Act 1968. The basis of all action to be taken is derived from this Act and from the Union War Book of India and the Geneva Convention and Protocols and Additional Protocols".The note further detailed the responsibilities of the home affairs department and respective districts, including filling vacant staff positions, conducting risk assessments, implementing air raid warning and blackout measures, updating civil defence plans, conducting regular rehearsals and training, and augmenting emergency services.The MHA clarified that up to 10% of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) could be utilised for procuring necessary civil defence equipment.MSID:: 120937508 413 |