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Hi-tech centres will work round-the-clock to avert 26/11-like situation

graphic/satish acharya

The BMC is expanding its Disaster Management Cell (DMC) following the 26/11 terror strikes. S S Shinde, joint municipal commissioner, DMC, confirmed that the BMC is planning to set up 40 disaster control rooms across Mumbai. "Each of the BMC's 24 ward offices, six divisional control centres of the fire brigade and prime civic hospitals will have a disaster control room," explained Shinde.

Civic sources said that each centre will operate 24x7 and will be run by four dedicated personnel. The centre's state-of-the-art local control room will help civic bosses remain in constant contact with officials working at disaster sites. The sources added that shortage of trained manpower could easily prove to be the biggest hurdle in implementing the project.

BMC's new disaster management plan
BMC's upgraded disaster management plan is being drawn with the help of Kyoto University, Japan, and the School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi. To begin with, a pilot plan for the G North ward is being drawn by the BMC with the assistance of ex-Army men. The civic body is also planning to find means of using the Civil Defence siren system to warn citizens during emergencies.

What will each  DMC have?
 Four specially-trained personnel
 Round-the-clock service
 TV, photocopier, fax machine and computer with Internet hotline to the police, fire brigade
 Generators to ensure uninterrupted power supply
 Helpline number for citizens to contact in case of an emergency

How it works
1. Citizens can call Disaster Management Cell if they witness a disaster
2. DMC soon contacts the nearest police station/ fire brigade and also arranges for ambulances to rush to the disaster spot