Noida to allot two acres for NDRF camp after election results

The camp will have ‘one company’ of NDRF, which includes deployment of 135 personnel, who will be the first respondents to any kind of disaster or natural calamity in the region.

The Noida authority is likely to allot two acres to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in Sector 153 in its first board meeting after the state’s assembly election results are declared on March 11.

A mock drill at the NDRF camp in Ghaziabad. (HT File)

Officials said they were given in-principal approval to provide the land, but the matter will be presented at the boarding meeting for the official nod. The decision to set up the NDRF camp in Noida was taken in January 2016 after which a team of experts inspected Sector 153 to find whether the land was suitable.

However, after the visit, the NRDF headquarter has written to the authority to allot land so that construction work for the camp can be initiated at earliest. However, the authority did not take a decision as the model code of conduct is in place during the state assembly polls.

Deepak Agarwal, chief executive officer of Noida authority, said, “We have received a letter from the NDRF asking us to provide two acres free of cost. The final call on the matter will be taken at the board meeting.”

The camp will have ‘one company’ of NDRF, which includes deployment of 135 personnel, who will be the first respondents to any kind of disaster or natural calamity in the region.

The decision to set up the base camp has been taken in view of the district’s rapid urbanisation and increase in population. According to the administration, there are nine major chemical industries in the district that are hazardous.

Currently, Gautam Budh Nagar is dependent on NDRF’s battalion headquarter in Ghaziabad and its team of 30 in Dwarka to deal with an emergency.

Officials said in such a scenario, there will be delay in response from the NDRF team.

The deployment of personnel in Sector 153 would be important for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) defence, officials said.

Also, Gautam Budh Nagar falls in seismic zone IV, which is a severe intensity zone in case of an earthquake.