Question : Drought Management Cell

(a) whether there exist guidelines for establishing Drought Management Cell and District Disaster Management Authority in the States in the country;

(b) if so, the number of States wherein Drought Management Cell and District Management Authority has been established so far;

(c) whether the Supreme Court of India has made any comment/observation in this regard;

(d) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto; and

(e) the concrete measures/steps taken by the Government to implement Drought Manual and drought management guidelines in those States where Drought Management Cells and District Disaster Management Authority have not been established so far?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a) & (b): The provision for establishment of District Disaster Management Authority for every district in the State is provided under Section 25(1) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. National Disaster Management Guidelines on Management of Drought mentions about creation of separate Drought Monitoring Cells (DMCs) at the State level with adequate staff under the control of State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs). As per available information, District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) have been constituted in all the districts of all the 29 States except for 4 districts in Uttar Pradesh, 2 districts in West Bengal, 7 districts in Assam and 1 district in Tamil Nadu.

(c) & (d): No, Madam. Supreme Court of India has not given any direction in this regard.

(e): State Governments have a mechanism to respond to disasters, including drought. The Manual for Drought Management and the National Disaster Management Guidelines serve as a guide to State Governments in monitoring, planning and providing relief in the wake of drought.

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