Mock drill conducted to check preparedness

Two “bomb blasts” were triggered at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, the venue of World Cup Hockey-2010 due to start from February 28, at 9:20 a.m. on Sunday as part of a disaster management mock drill to check the preparedness of various agencies in such a scenario.

While about 400 personnel and officers from various departments participated in the exercise in which 40 “casualties” were moved to two hospitals and the responses were noted, the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi District) did not participate in the drill as part of a stand taken by the Delhi Police on the issue.

However, other sections of the Delhi Police including Police Control Room, Delhi Traffic Police and Specialists in Weapons and Arms Tactics (SWAT) participated in the drill. Senior Specialist of National Disaster Management Authority Brigadier Dr. B. Khanna said as far as the drill was concerned, all the stakeholders including the fire department, ambulance services, Delhi Police, Bomb Disposal Squad, various civic agencies and hospitals participated in the exercise. Nevertheless, the drill brought to the fore the tussle for one-upmanship between the civil administration and a section of the police that wants the offices of the Deputy Commissioner of Police to chair the respective District Disaster Management Authority against the provisions of the Disaster Management Act 2005.

Sources in the Delhi Government said the drill was planned at the stadium as it would host the World Cup Hockey championship from February 28 to March 13 and would also be a venue for the Commonwealth Games later this year.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) planned the mock drill and a meeting was held on February 13 at NDMC Palika Kendra to attend which DCP (New Delhi) was also invited as he is a notified member of DDMA (New Delhi). Earlier his office had also participated in all disaster management activities and mock drills conducted as per mandate of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. But on the evening of February 12, Delhi Government sources said the office of DCP (New Delhi) informed that the Delhi Police had decided that they would not participate in any mock drills or other exercises relating to Commonwealth Games being done under DDMA. It was stated that DDMA should keep away from the Commonwealth Games and from the stadiums as only the Delhi Police had the mandate to conduct such mock exercises as the same are related, in the opinion of a section of Delhi Police, to combating terrorism.

Incidentally, the Delhi Police Commissioner is understood to have discussed the issue with the Lieutenant-Governor a couple of days ago. When contacted DCP New Delhi Shankar Dash refused to comment on the issue saying: “Your question on my not attending the mock drill is itself prejudiced. It seems you have been briefed by some officials and you are going by their version. It is a Sunday and I would not like to state anything on this issue.”

The civil administration has taken strong exception to this refusal of a section of Delhi Police to participate in DDMA mock drills and raised it with higher authorities. Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta said he would seek a report on the issue and call a meeting to resolve the matter.

Meanwhile, a senior Delhi Government official said: “The Disaster Management Act, 2010, applies to whole of India and the only authority to amend the said Act is Parliament itself. If the Delhi Police wants the said Act to be modified or amended, it should approach Parliament or the Supreme Court.”