Civil Defence Powers: The central government on Friday gave a strong message to all the states and Union Territories. It asked them to start using their emergency powers under the Civil Defence Rules, 1968. This decision came after many areas in the country, mostly near the western border with Pakistan, were put on high alert. This alert came because Pakistan fired drones and missiles as a reply to India’s military action called Operation Sindoor.
The Ministry of Home Affairs sent this order to all chief secretaries and administrators. They were told to act fast and protect people and places. They must make sure that important things like electricity, water, and transport keep working even during a very serious situation like war. These powers are written clearly in Section 11 of the Civil Defence Act, 1968 and states are allowed to use them during dangerous times.
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Basically if the country is in danger, the state can take action quickly, and local governments must focus on this first, even before their regular work.
“The funds of the local authority shall be applicable to the payment of the charges and expenses incidental to such compliance, and priority shall be given to such compliance over all other duties and obligations of the local authority,” the MHA letter noted, reports ABP.
“I shall be grateful, if Section 11 of the CD Rules, 1968, can be invoked and necessary Emergency Procurement Powers to the Director Civil Defence of your State/UT, may be granted so that efficient implementation of the necessary precautionary measures can be implemented,” the letter further read.
What Civil Defence Is and What States Are Doing
Civil defence is not fighting a war but it helps people stay safe when there’s a risk of attack or disaster. It includes plans to protect people, homes, schools, hospitals, and many other places. These actions can start before, during, or after a threat. It helps lower the damage and saves lives.
The state governments now must start doing many things to prepare. This includes getting ready to move people out of danger, hiding important buildings like power plants and military areas using camouflaging, and setting up places for people to stay if they are forced to leave their homes. They also have to make sure that water, light, and transport still work in emergencies. Even city municipal bodies have to use their own money to pay for all this work.
As per the rules, the Central Government can also give orders, and if those orders are different from what the State decides, then the Centre’s order will be followed. This makes sure that there’s one strong and clear direction during any emergency.
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Mock Drills, Blackouts And Sirens To Be Part Of Training
Earlier this week, the government already told all states and UTs to hold mock drills on May 7. These drills are like practice sessions so people know what to do if there’s an attack. The drills happened in 244 Civil Defence Districts across the country. These areas are marked as very important for safety planning.
The states are now putting air raid sirens in place so that they can warn people fast if anything happens. They are also doing crash blackouts, which means turning off all lights quickly so that enemy aircraft cannot find targets at night. People, including students, are being trained on how to stay safe during an air or ground attack.
Other things the states must do include rehearsing evacuation plans and hiding important buildings using special covers or paint to make them hard to see from the sky. The army and local authorities are working together closely so that if something serious happens, they are ready to act fast.
