DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur: The Emergency Operation Centre in dire straits at Diglipur in North Andaman exposes the inertia of the Disaster Management Directorate towards implementing an apposite disaster response mechanism in this highly earthquake-prone territory. Lack of staff, timely calibration of equipments and random functioning, in all, reveals the neglect inflicted on the Centre in the region by the authorities.
According to reports, the EOC at Diglipur has remained closed continuously for the last 16 months even during conduct of routine disaster mock exercises. Moreover, two staff appointed for the Centre on daily wage basis has been moved to the Administrative Office of the Diglipur region. Shutting down for months together has also had an effect on the equipments installed in the Centre as crucial electronic devices require regular operation and calibration.
“The condition of the EOC at Diglipur poses a serious doubt on the efficiency of the Disaster Management Directorate. Failing under the seismic zone-V category, these islands need a proper disaster management in force. The agency concerned has been claiming tall through press publicity, but the factual situation at ground reveals the apathy within. It’s high time the Chief Secretary intervenes to set things in order. If not, disaster like the 2004 earthquake or the recent Nepal tragedy, if occurs, such poor management of the Disaster Management Department will cost thousands of innocent lives,” says a resident of Diglipur.
When Andaman Sheekha team visited the Department of Disaster Management and tried to know the reasons behind this mismanagement no officer was willing to respond to media questions. The Director of Disaster Management is said to be in Mainland presently. The Lt. Governor is visiting Diglipur Island on 9th May and hopefully at Diglipur someone some senior official will be in a position to atleast tell the Lt. Governor why the EOC is closed for 16 months.
