Synopsis
The Maharashtra Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, approved amendments to include Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in the Disaster Management Authority. This change comes after Shinde's absence from the restructured Authority caused dissatisfaction. The updates aim to enhance emergency response coordination.Key Takeaways
- Cabinet approves changes to Disaster Management Authority.
- Eknath Shinde included as ex officio member.
- Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis leads the amendments.
- Authority crucial for emergency responses post-Mumbai floods.
- Structure revised to align with disaster management rules.
Mumbai, Feb 11 (NationPress) The state Cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, granted approval on Tuesday for amendments to the Maharashtra Disaster Management Authority Rules, 2019. This revision incorporates Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who also serves as the Urban Development Minister, as an ex officio member.
The state government had recently reshaped the Authority, led by the Chief Minister, to include Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Nevertheless, Eknath Shinde was notably absent from this restructured Authority, prompting his significant dissatisfaction, which catalyzed the Cabinet's approval of the amendments.
A senior member of MahaYuti stated: “The amendments will facilitate the inclusion of Eknath Shinde as an ex officio member of the Authority.”
The Disaster Management Authority, established following the catastrophic Mumbai floods in 2005, is essential for orchestrating emergency responses, overseen by the Chief Minister.
According to the amendments, the Chief Minister, as the Authority's chairperson, will appoint ministers and non-official members. A government release indicated that the structure of the Maharashtra Disaster Management Authority will now align with Rule 3 of the Maharashtra Disaster Management Rules, 2019, leading to a revision of its composition.
Post-amendments, the Maharashtra Disaster Management Authority will be composed of a Chairperson and nine members. The Chief Minister will serve as the ex-officio Chairperson, while the Deputy Chief Minister will hold the position of ex-officio member. Additional ministers and individuals with expertise in disaster risk reduction will be appointed as non-official members by the Chief Minister.
The Authority will also include the Chairperson of the State Executive Committee, as well as the ex-officio member and Chief Executive Officer.
Previously, the Authority consisted of the Chief Minister as ex-officio Chairman, along with the Ministers of Revenue, Finance, Home, Relief and Rehabilitation, and Public Health, who were all ex-officio members. Moreover, three non-official members with relevant knowledge and experience in disaster risk reduction were nominated by the Chairman, alongside the ex-officio members from the State Executive Committee and the Chief Executive Officers of the Authority.
