Now, a nodal agency to combat disasters

Wary of the abuses that rain on it every monsoon for ad hoc relief and mitigation efforts, the civic body has set up a nodal agency for proper coordination between different government agencies to tackle seasonal disasters and mishaps.

Wary of the abuses that rain on it every monsoon for ad hoc relief and mitigation efforts, the civic body has set up a nodal agency for proper coordination between different government agencies to tackle seasonal disasters and mishaps.

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The Greater Mumbai Disaster Management Authority (GMDMA) has been established at the city level to coordinate between the police, railways and other infrastructure agencies such as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, state public works department, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation and other concerned agencies.

The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) had also been convened under the chairmanship of chief minister Prithviraj Chavan to review pre-monsoon preparations of all agencies. “We have held two meetings of the GMDMA and SDMA to ensure all the pre-monsoon measures are in place,” said Sitaram Kunte, municipal commissioner.

The GMDMA has been set up under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to provide effective management by government authorities during disasters.

Kunte added that a mosquito abatement committee has also been set up to combat cases of malaria and dengue.

The city had recorded 16,086 cases of malaria last year.