The state government has set up urban disaster management authorities (UDMAs) in ten major municipal corporations, including Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Brihanmumbai, to address disaster-related challenges specific to urban areas.
The state disaster management, relief and rehabilitation department issued a notification on October 1, stating that the municipal commissioner of each civic body would head the ten-member authority. The respective district collector would serve as vice-chairperson, with the city police commissioner and other senior civic officials among its members.
The other seven civic bodies covered by the notification are Thane, Nashik, Nagpur, Vasai-Virar, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Navi Mumbai and Kalyan-Dombivli.
The move follows the Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025, passed by Parliament, which provides for the establishment of UDMAs in state capitals and large cities.
Vinita Singhal, additional chief secretary of the state disaster management, relief and rehabilitation department, said that the 10 civic bodies had been selected because they are located in large districts and face urban disaster risks that may differ from those in surrounding rural areas.