Centre forms disaster assessment team to evaluate damage in Uttarakhand

DEHRADUN, 23 Aug: Uttarakhand, which faces natural disasters almost every year, prepares a comprehensive memorandum of the damage and submits it to the Government of India to seek financial assistance, almost annually.  In a similar exercise this year, the state government has begun compiling a detailed account of the losses caused by the recent disasters in Dharali, Syana chatti, and other affected areas of Uttarkashi, as well as in parts of Pauri and Tharali. The proposal, once finalised, will be sent to the Centre for consideration.  The Chief Secretary has directed all departments to complete their assessments of losses and to submit the requisite reports by 25 August.

Meanwhile in an important development, the Union Government has also constituted its own team for an independent assessment of the damages in Uttarakhand. This Central team will visit the affected areas for on-the-ground inspection and prepare its official evaluation. Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman has shared that a formal memorandum outlining the extent of losses caused by the calamities in Uttarakhand is being readied for submission to the Government of India. All departments have been instructed to provide their assessments August 25 so that the consolidated report can be dispatched without delay. He confirmed that the Central government team will visit the disaster-hit sites shortly, inspect and evaluate the on ground situation. He added that following this, the Disaster Management Department will undertake a Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA). The financial package from the Government of India will be announced thereafter on the basis of the PDNA and the central assessment.

Suman further informed that the Central assessment team comprises seven members under the leadership of a Joint Secretary. It includes a Chief Engineer, a Director, a Deputy Director, and senior officials from other departments. He said that once the Uttarakhand government forwards its memorandum on damages to the Centre, the team will arrive in the state and inspect Dharali, Syanachatti, Pauri, Tharali, and other disaster-affected areas in order to gauge the ground situation. The objective of this exercise is to verify the accuracy of the damage figures and the claims submitted by the state government. After the verification and subsequent PDNA, the state will become eligible for relief assistance under the central package.

Suman further informed that several departments have already finalised and submitted their damage assessment reports, whereas reports from some are awaited. The Chief Secretary has made it clear that all departments must submit their pending reports by August 25 as a review meeting has been scheduled on the same day under his chairmanship. The meeting is expected to evaluate the compiled assessments, finalise the memorandum for submission to the Centre, and ensure there are no deficiencies in the state’s presentation of the damage caused by the recent spate of natural disasters.