Tamil Nadu to set up special state disaster response force unit

The government has set up a committee, chaired by the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Operations, Ashish Bhengra, to prepare a detailed project proposal (DPR), including the financial implications. The idea is to create a specialised force by earmarking the existing Tamil Nadu Special Police Battalion 13 stationed at Veerapuram, Avadi. This battalion could be repositioned as  TNDRF, government sources said. 

The state government will be releasing Rs 15 crore from the State Disaster Relief Fund for skill development and for procurement of communication and rescue equipment. Apart from ADGP, Operations, IGs of Coastal Security Group, Operations and Armed Police would be members  of the committee. 

The government has already sent a letter in this regard to the Tamil Nadu DGP, asking him to set up the committee. When contacted, Ashish Bhengra, ADGP, Operations, told DT Next that although he has come to know about the announcement, he 

is yet to receive the formal orders. “At present, we have a small team with specialisation in disaster management under the Tamil Nadu Special Police (TSP) and the idea is to have an exclusive force that could attend to natural, as well as man-made disasters. Once the committee is set up, we will work on the model that could be developed,” Bhengra said. 

The idea would be to send the selected TSP personnel to the NDRF for training and to make them learn things on the ground, like Odisha, which has a well-trained and experienced disaster response force, has done. 

At present, every district has a small disaster response force that is trained by TSP, but they are not equipped enough to handle major natural disasters. The exclusive TNDRF, once set up, would respond to emergency situations, either natural or manmade and will have a separate control room at their disposal, for statewide communication, sources added. 

The government, however, has not fixed a time frame for the committee to submit its DPR as yet, but it could be set once the government issues formal orders in this regard. The government may also consider creation of an additional post, to head the TNDRF.

TNDRF would exclusively be a reactionary force in the event of natural or man-made disasters.  

Tamil Nadu Special Police 13th Battalion, Avadi, likely to be repositioned as TNDRF. 

State government to sanction Rs 15 crore from the State Disaster Management. 

Fund Fund to be utilised for purchase of equipment and skill development of TNDRF.