A central coordinator
will now lead the cyclone mitigation projects currently being
implemented in 13 coastal states and Union territories. The state
governments have been asked to forward names of "eligible and willing"
officers having experience in disaster management. The Centre would
then decide and appoint a project director from the list of probables
to coordinate the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project .
The Orissa chief secretary received a letter from the Centre dated
August 10 saying: "The World Bank, which has agreed in principle to
fund the project, has been insisting on a programme management unit and
a full-time project director. The project director would be engaged
through technical assistance provided by the International Strategy for
Disaster Reduction, who have expressed their willingness to support the
programme." The state government would have to suggest the names of
officers who "might have been engaged by the state government for
similar work". The letter states: "It is also recommended that
recommendations of your state government in regard to their previous
engagement in the specified area may also be furnished."
The Centre had earlier issued guidelines and left the implementation of
the project to the states. But a director would henceforth co-ordinate
the efforts. The project is now being implemented in Andhra Pradesh,
Gujarat, Andaman and Nicobar, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Orissa,
Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Daman
and Diu. States are undertaking various works under the project,
including the construction of cyclone shel-
ters, shelterbelt plantation, preservation/ regeneration of mangrove
forests, construction of embankments and establishment of missing road
links/culverts/bridges and commissioning of technical assistance/
studies to sustain these initiatives.
The project director has to be a member IAS, Indian Forest Service or
other Group A central services. He would guide teams at the state level
and monitor project preparation, implementation and "advise the state
authorities for corrective measures that are to be addressed for
effective implementation".
He would also co-ordinate the preparation of required operating manual
and Standard Operating Procedures as per World Bank procedures.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/071028/32/6miol.html
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