The Capital Development Authority's (CDA) plan to set up a disaster management cell is yet to take shape, with one reason or another keeping the project on hold. Following the huge loss in the collapse of Margalla Towers in Islamabad in 2005 earthquake, the Authority had announced to set up a disaster management cell to cope with any possible emergency in future, said a CDA official.
Further, in the month of September, the capital witnessed another big tragedy when a terrorist suicide truck bombing wrecked the Marriott Hotel. During the Marriott rescue operation, questions were raised about the performance of the relevant CDA machinery.
Under its disaster management initiative, the Authority had planned to purchase a large fleet of vehicles, fire-fighting equipment and direly needed rescue machinery. Some machinery has already been purchased, but the required infrastructure and expertise to tackle emergencies, is nowhere to be seen.
The Authority had sought help for the project from the capital administration, police, traffic police, civil defence and several other departments. The CDA budget for fiscal year 2007-08 had allocated funds for the plan, but the new budget had nothing to offer for the project.
A PC-1 of the project being funded under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) envisages procurement of 36 fire-fighting vehicles and ambulances at a cost of Rs 600.11 million. When contacted, a CDA official said that the Authority had hired the staff for the cell and a disaster management-training academy would be established in sector H-11 on 38 acres.
However, he did not give timeframe for the project. The complex would include an Urban Rescue Centre, fire substations, canine centre for 20 dogs, three rubble grounds for training, 60 residential flats, horse riding school and playgrounds.
He said the PC-1 of the academy was under process and the Authority had already purchased 68-metre aerial ladders from Finland. The official further said that the project comprises several departments hence it could take another one year to take some shape. The CDA would purchase state-of-the-art machinery including lifters, cutters, draggers and cranes.
The official also said that the project would involve six departments including vulnerability assessment, planning, institutional framework and information system, resource base, warning system, response system and public education. Moreover, two well-equipped operation rooms as well as an emergency field control room (EFCM) and an emergency control room (ECM) are included in the part of the plan.
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