New Delhi: The fire that kept burning for days at the Indian Oil Corporation depot in Jaipur recently bears out the results of a recent government survey: That 70% of the firefighting units across the country, particularly those in the districts, are not even equipped to do their job.
The survey, done by the home ministry's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), was based on more than 150 mock exercises conducted over the past one year to gauge the preparedness of disaster management units. It was found that not do the 70% of firefighting units lack proper training, they don't even have access to the basic equipment to perform their role.
Given the great risk of chemical disasters, about one-third of these mock exercises were conducted in this sector. The results show that the 1,949 Major Accident Hazard Units, or hazardous industries, located all over the country are waiting to be trapped by Jaipur-type fires unless quick remedial measures are taken.
The problem is on two fronts. Not only has the country not taken adequate measures to prevent industrial or chemical disasters, it lacks the means to control the ill-effects of such accidents too. And the Jaipur inferno, that resulted in colossal loss in terms of lives and material, has re-emphasised the doubts raised about the country's capability to prevent and fight such accidents. Experts believe the sooner India gets to work on a disaster prevention and management policy, the better, because more and more chemicals are being used every day.
According to NDMA official BK Khannam, the survey showed that ambulances, stretchers and medicines meant to fight toxicity, all basic things that should be handy during a disaster, were in short supply.
The Jaipur accident has also turned the focus on another hot topic: When will India start insisting on proper land-use plans, particularly for hazardous industries? According to Anandita Sengupta of the International Institute of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, even though such planning is in force the world over to cut risks, it has been given a go by in India.
Land-use planning provides advance information about what kind of hazardous chemicals being used in a particular industry, and what dangers it spells for a neighbourhood around the industry. Ultimately, land-use planning becomes a useful tool to prevent disasters.
Experts said that the absence of an integrated approach in disaster management had made it difficult to limit the damage during mishaps, such as the one in Jaipur. Besides, very little is known about hazardous industries, their support systems and emergency communication plans, experts said.
According to RB Gnanavelou, an expert on industries, first, the government should list major hazardous industries and draw proper inventories. Next, it should equip emergency response services with fully-trained staff and create on and off-site emergency plans for all districts in the country.
First Published: Monday, November 16, 2009, 09:53