The Delhi cabinet approved a proposal to create its own State Disaster Response Force on Tuesday. The force will have 1,050 personnel led by an IG rank officer. Officials said, "There will be 18 teams," to handle emergencies. This new unit aims to improve safety against floods and building collapses.
The Capital currently relies on the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Services, police and other agencies for rescue and relief operations during emergencies.
The proposal to create the SDRF was passed during a Cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday.
The SDRF will be headed by an IG rank officer and will comprise 1,050 personnel, officials said.
"There will be 18 teams -- one each for the 13 revenue districts and the remaining five in reserve. Initially, the force will comprise personnel who will be taken on deputation from the CAPFs," said an official.
Another official said they are targeting to have at least a couple of teams in place by the beginning of January.
"For personnel to be taken on deputation, we will have to take out advertisements, and then conduct interviews of shortlisted candidates. The process will take at least two months," the second official said.
The proposal to create the force will be sent to Lt Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
A formal notification will then be issued, officials said.
The proposal to create SDRF gathered pace after seven people were killed in a building collapse in Satya Niketan last month.
HT has been reporting on the government's push to create its own disaster response force.
The proposal was mooted amid growing concerns over Delhi’s vulnerability to both natural and man-made disasters, as it falls within the high-risk Seismic Zone IV and has witnessed recurring monsoon floods, fire incidents, and building collapses.