Date:01/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/01/stories/2008110154940700.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Disaster management force soon in State

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: A State disaster management force, which will swing into action to give immediate response in terms of rescue and relief operations on occurrence of calamities like floods and earthquakes, will be formed in 15 days.

The new force will be created by merging Fire Service and Civil Defence departments. A decision to this effect was taken by the State Disaster Management Authority at its meeting here on Friday presided over by Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, its chairman.

The Chief Minister wanted officials to give a final shape to the merger proposal and name the new department suitably. He said district fire service officers would be re-designated as disaster management officers.

Dr. Reddy said Fire Service and Civil Defence departments had a key role to play under one umbrella during disasters.

Among those present were Revenue Minister D. Prasada Rao, chief secretary P. Ramakantha Reddy and Disaster Management Commissioner Dinesh Kumar.