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A State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) on the lines of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will be formed in the state. The decision was taken on the conviction that such a mechanism is essential to provide quick help during natural disasters, said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at a post-cabinet briefing here on Tuesday.
The heavy damage caused in the recent rains and landslides in Kozhikode and Kannnur districts indicated the need for such a mechanism. There was a unit of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) at Kozhikode earlier.
The Centre will be requested to reinstate the unit there itself at the earliest, he said. The SDRF will have 100 members from police force.
Chandy thanked Union Ministers A K Antony and Mullapally Ramachandran for their timely intervention in providing the support from Navy, Air Force and the Disaster Management Authority during the recent calamities which hit the northern districts.
The cabinet sanctioned Rs 7 crore to rebuild the shutters of Pazzashi dam, which failed to open during the heavy rains leading to the flooding of large tracts in the hilly belt and heavy damage and losses to life and property.
Chandy said that the Kerala Electrical & Allied Engineering Co has been entrusted to take up the work and complete it within a year. The Agriculture Department has been entrusted with the task to assess the damage caused to crops in both districts and to submit a report. As per the norms of Central Government, the compensation award is normally very low. Hence, the State Government has deviated from the present Central norms in providing financial help. Three times the usual Central assistance has been awarded. An in-principle approval for the Attapadi Valley irrigation project was also given by the cabinet and it was decided to approach the Centre for environmental clearance. The cabinet also decided on a new project, Mission for Empowerment of Women, in the state as per the guidelines of the Centre. Details regarding the project have been submitted by the Social Welfare Department.
A meeting of service organisations has been convened on August 16 to discuss issues raised on the contributory pension scheme for new recruits into the government service from the next fiscal.
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