NASHIK: Following outbreak of the coronavirus cases in the country which has crossed 60-mark including five persons who tested positive for coronavirus in Pune, the Nashik district administration has imposed the Disaster Management Act, 2005 to tackle the outbreak of Covid-19
District collector Suraj Mandhare, who is also the chairman of the district disaster management authority, issued the order appointing district civil surgeon Dr Suresh Jagdale as the ‘Incident Commander’ and district health officer (DHO) Dr Daval Salve as the Joint Controller for better planning and execution of the rules and regulations.
The Act has been invoked as the law helps the administration in better utilisation of the available resources and manpower not only in the various government departments but also in private sector. The services of private doctors and hospitals can also be utilised easily now.
These two officers will be responsible for coordinating with various other departments for information related to coronavirus, providing health services at airport and other crowded places. They will also create awareness among public through various means.
Another important task is to make sure medical stores don’t overcharge people for masks, injections and medicines etc. The Disaster Management Act 2005 gives ample power to the district administration under Sections 33 and 34 to deal with any disaster related situation.
The district authority will be given powers for requisition for any officer or any department at the district level or any local authority to take measures for prevention or mitigation of disaster, or to effectively respond to it, as may be necessary, and such officer or department shall be bound to carry out such order.
In order to carry out various responsibilities to create public awareness and take preventive measures amid the coronavirus scare, under home department, city police commissioner and district police superintendent will work as the Joint Controller.
The district civil surgeon and DHO under health department, municipal commissioners (Nashik/Malegaon), CEO (ZP Nashik), sub-divisional officers and tehsildars (Revenue department), joint commissioner – food and administration, all departmental heads (industrial security, health, Red Cross, Lions Club, Rotary Club, Vipashyana centre and other NGOs) will work as the Joint Controller during the enforement period of the Disaster Management Act.
