Government of India

Ministry of Agriculture

(Department of Agriculture & Cooperation)

CRISIS MANAGEMENT PLAN

DROUGHT

(NATIONAL)

2012

1
 Drought Management Division

Periodicity of occurrence of Drought in various parts of the country.

2
 INDEX

S. No. Contents Pages

1. Evolving CMP 4-5

2. Drought – a Crisis 6-9

3. Crisis Management Framework 10-14

4. Strategic Activity Planner 15-20

5. Agencies responsible for identified 21-25

activities

6. Monitoring & Reporting of Drought 26

7. Dissemination of Information and 26

Media Management

8. Crisis Management Group 26

9. Nodal Officers 27

10. Drought Management Contacts 27

11. Conclusion 27

12. Appendices 1 – 4 28-33

3
 Crisis Management Plan

1. Evolving a CMP….

Crisis Management Plan (CMP) refers to the actionable programme, which

is pressed into action in the event of a crisis situation to minimise damages to life,
property and environment.

Being prepared to respond to a Crisis situation, helps in reducing the time

taken to mobilize resources for an effective response. It also helps us to maintain
cordial relations among stakeholders, enabling us to return to normal business
operations more quickly. The goal of crisis management is to facilitate overall
management of the crisis situation to minimize adverse impact on the community
at large, maintaining individual and sovereign credibility and controlling and
strengthening the Government’s credibility with the public.

CMP helps us to develop preventive measures in a time bound manner and

provides for continuous improvement in managing crisis situation. CMP ensures
factual and timely communication of what needs to be done under specific
circumstances to all the stake holders to minimise the losses.

The crisis recovery model based upon past experiences, on identified

priorities and trigger-points with appropriate response matrix viz. contingency
action plans of different agencies could be known as Crisis Management Plan
(CMP). The identified priorities of CMP are to clarify the goals and define the roles
and responsibilities of various responders (Ministries / Departments,
Organisations and individuals) involved in crisis management, and putting
together a communication process for quickly notifying the Public in the event of a
crisis.

4
 The Plan outlined in this document does not replace the emergency
procedures or contingency action plans already drawn by different agencies, but
has been developed to address crisis situations that have the potential for a much
greater impact on the Nation. Despite the fact that care has been taken to include
all aspects of crisis management in the document, there may be occasions when an
entirely new and unforeseen crisis situation could arise during the same type of
crisis. Thus, it is necessary that the team of officers included in the Crisis
Management Group (CMG) evolve a strategy to handle such unforeseen situations
which can later be included as a part of the CMP as a continuing process.

This Crisis Management Plan (CMP) is part of overall spectrum of

Drought Management Plan but is restricted to the management interventions
required during the time of Crisis.

5
2. Drought – a Crisis

Generally, drought is not considered as a crisis of urgent nature but

considered as a management issue. Drought is a natural, recurring climatic feature
which stems from lack of rainfall over an extended period of time (i.e. a season or
several years resulting in severe shortage of water resources). It occurs almost in
all climatic regions of the world. Drought is a normal phenomenon in arid zone
areas, a common phenomenon in semi- arid zone areas and a rare to very rare
phenomenon in dry humid and humid areas. It is a natural disaster, which can be
anticipated and also expected on the basis of rainfall pattern, temperature etc. In a
large country like India having many agro-climatic zones, though drought cannot
be prevented totally, its impact on the community at large can be minimized. The
management of severe drought during 1987, 2002 and 2009 is a testimony to this
fact.

Drought connotes a situation of water shortage for human, cattle and

agriculture consumption resulting in economic losses, primarily in agriculture
sector. Drought is classified as Meteorological, Hydrological and Agricultural.
Unlike the Hydrological and Agricultural droughts, the Meteorological Drought,
which connotes specific rainfall reduction below -19% of normal rainfall, may not
necessarily have any serious impact if the departure from normal is not significant
and the rainfall is sufficient enough to sustain soil moisture.

In India, drought essentially occurs due to failure of south-west monsoon

(June – September). Areas affected by drought need to wait till the next monsoon,
as more than 73% of annual rainfall in the country is received during the SW
Monsoon season.

6
 The available data on rainfall indicate that –

16% of the Country’s total area is drought prone and annually about 50
million people in the country are exposed to the crisis of drought;

A total of 68% of sown area is subject to drought in varying degrees;

35% of area receives rainfall between 750 mm – 1125 mm and is drought
prone;

Most of the drought prone areas lie in the arid (19.6%), semi-arid(37%) and
sub-humid(21%) areas of the country that occupy 77.6% of its total land area
of 329 million hectares.

Annual Average Rainfall is 1160 mm in India. However, 85% of rainfall is
concentrated in 100-120 days (SW Monsoon)

33%of area receives less than 750-mm rainfall and is chronically drought
prone;

21% area receives less than 750 mm rainfall (large area of Peninsular India
and Rajasthan)

Rainfall is erratic in 4 out of 10 years.

Irrigation Potential is 140 Million Ha (76 MHa Surface + 64 MHa
Groundwater)

Depletion of Ground water and limitation of surface water imply that not
all of net sown area is amenable to irrigation.

Per Capita Water availability is steadily declining due to increase in
population, rapid industrialization, urbanization, cropping intensity and
declining ground water level. Problems are likely to aggravate.

Net Result – Inevitability of Drought in Some Part or Other.

The mechanism for anticipating and managing droughts necessarily differs
from similar arrangements concerning other disasters, natural calamities (like
earthquakes, floods, cloudbursts, tsunami etc) or man-made disasters, for the
following reasons:

(i) Slow onset and prolonged course of droughts as against the other
disasters, which have rapid onset, and a limited duration; and
(ii) Early warning indicators in case of droughts are necessarily ambiguous
because they may or may not culminate in a full-blown drought.

7
 Government of India in 2002 decided to retain the issue of management of
drought with the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation when it was decided
to transfer the management of all other types of natural and man-made disasters to
the Ministry of Home Affairs. Unlike other natural disasters its onset is slow but
has a very serious impact on the economy due to its intensity and longer duration
over a period of time.

State Government’s primary responsibility:

The primary responsibility of managing drought (or any other natural

disasters) is that of the respective State Governments. The role of Central
Government is to supplement the efforts of the State Government in effective
management of disasters and provide additional resources (food grains / financial
assistance etc.) to combat the situation.

The risk management plan having early warning indicators in case of

drought are ambiguous, as they may or may not culminate into a full-blown
drought. In such situations the relief based management approach has to be
launched to contain the impact of drought. Thus, it is to be understood that besides
having a general risk management plan for handling drought with long-term and
short-term approaches, we need to have a Crisis Management Plan (CMP) to deal
with drought situation by the Central Government and the State Governments to
minimize its impact.

Early indicators of Droughts…

The following constitute ‘early warning indicators’:

For Kharif (sowing June to August)

i) Delay in onset of South-West Monsoon.

ii) Long ‘break’ activity of South-West Monsoon.
iii) Insufficient rains during the month of July.
iv) Rise in Price of fodder.
v) Absence of rising trend in Reservoir Levels.
vi) Drying up of sources of Rural Drinking Water Supply.

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 vii) Declining trend in the progress of sowing over successive weeks
compared to corresponding figures for “normal years”.
For Rabi (sowing November to January)

i) Deficiency in closing figures for South-West Monsoon (30th

September).
ii) Serious depletion in level of Ground Water compared to figures for
“normal years’.
iii) Fall in the level of Reservoirs compared to figures of the
corresponding period in the ‘normal years’ – indication of poor
recharge following SW Monsoon.
iv) Indication of marked soil moisture stress.
v) Rise in price of fodder.
vi) Increased deployment of water through tankers
(For Tamil Nadu & Pondicherry the crucial period is North East
Monsoon – October to December)

Other Seasons

For areas like Gujarat, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada and North

Interior Karnataka the crucial period is March / April when due to chronic
hydrological drought, many areas develop acute scarcity of Drinking Water.

For specific states and particular crops there are particular times in a year
when progress of rains is of special significance e.g. February rains in Kerala for
plantation crops.

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3. Crisis Management Framework

It is the framework of crisis analysis aimed at identification of fundamental aspects of

Crisis situation (Phases of crisis, magnitude, outcome of crisis [impact], trigger mechanism
and strategic response matrix).

Leve Phases of Vulnerability Outcome Identified Strategic Response Matrix /

l Crisis Magnitude of the Trigger Action
(area specific) Crisis mechanism
(Scale : Zero – Phase
10)
1. Normal Zero. Nil Nil  Developing and
Strengthening drought
(Rainfall is preparedness
above +19% to -  assessing food and water
19% requirements and
cumulatively resources,
for more than 4  constant monitoring of
weeks period drought-related
through out the characteristics
season )  Drawing up of
perspective plans with
the vision of drought
proofing under Mahatma
Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee
Scheme (MGNREGS)
Integrated Watershed
Management Programme
(IWMP) etc.

2. Alert / Watch 1-2 Incipient. • CAP  Preparation of updated

Forecast of late Sudden (Crop) Contingency Crop Plan
onset of acceleratio • CAP and its propagation
monsoon n of (Water) through effective agro-
coupled with demand of • CAP advisory services
continuing employme (Health)  Propagation of short-term
water crisis and nt. water conservation
heat wave. measures, water-
budgeting,
Delayed onset  Proper health advisories
of monsoon and and ensuring availability
anticipated of emergency medical
deficit rainfall services
in the areas  Continuation of ongoing
already affected alternative employment
by drought generation programmes
from the in drought affected /
previous year. prone areas, through
MGNREGS as a part of
(Apr - Jun) supplementary
(Rainfall employment and as a
forecast is social safety net support

10
 expected to be under MGNREGS
less than the  Monitoring over
normal rainfall exploitation of ground
and below -19% water for non-
and the deficit agricultural and non-
continues for drinking purposes (i.e.
more than 2-3 industrial / commercial /
weeks & Soil entertainment purposes)
moisture level Advisory Note:
is (The ULBs may be directed
unsustainable) to control the extraction of
water)
 Energising the Identified
alternative sources for the
requirement of water,
food, fodder and power.
 Meeting of Crisis
Management Group
(CMG) to review and
revitalise the role of
concerned machineries.
3. Warning 3-4 Moderate • CAP  Effective role of
Delayed onset (Crop) Extension machinery and
of monsoon. • CAP realising the objectives of
Deficit Rainfall (Water) Contingency Crop Plan
for more than • CAP by ICAR.
two weeks. (Health)  Operationalising short-
Acute water • CAP term water conservation
crisis. (Food & measures by municipal
(Jun – Mid PD) and district agencies,
July) water-budgeting by the
Ministry of Water
(Rainfall is less Resources (Irrigation),
than the normal M/o Urban Development
rainfall and (PHED) and by Drinking
below -19% and Water & Sanitation
the deficit Advisory Note:
continues for Identify alternative sources
more than 3 – 6 when the town is in
weeks & Soil “Warning” period and the
moisture, GW supply of water may be
& SW level is restricted to 70 lpcd instead
lower than of 135 lpcd)
previous  Judicious use of drinking
normal average) water (restricted supply
of water for basic
requirement and
alternative non-potable
water for other purposes)
 Meeting of CMG to
review the action plan
initiated by line
Departments and affected
State Governments and
taking decision for
movement of water and

11
 fodder from surplus
areas (States) to the
deficit areas (States).
 Review and Visit by Area
Officers in the deficit
rainfall States.
 Apprising the
developments to National
Crisis Management
Committee (NCMC)
 Action Plan for meeting
out the shortage of
secondary and tertiary
sectors
4. Emergency 5-7 Severe • CAP  Referring the issue to
Deficit or No (Crop) NCMC for taking up with
rainfall during • CAP Cabinet for taking certain
the sowing (Water) vital decisions like
period. Mid- • CAP deferment / rescheduling
season (Cattle /fresh loan, movement of
withdrawal of Care) water and fodder
monsoon. Dry • CAP through railways,
spell for more (Health) additional allocation of
than 4 weeks. • CAP food grains, establishing
Deficit rainfall (EGP) cattle camps, alternative
in the range of - • CAP employment generation
20% to -40%. (Food & programmes, enhancing
Wilting of PD) PDS allocations, import
Crops due to • of food grains to meet the
shortage of gap between demand and
water and supply, checking up of
continuing heat inflation etc.
wave Advisory Note:
conditions. In the ‘Emergency’ period,
(JUL –SEP) water may be supplied at 40
lpcd and non-potable water
(Rainfall is less may be supplemented for
than the normal other uses.
rainfall and  Early release of
below -25% and instalments under State
the deficit Disaster Response Fund
continue for (SDRF) and ensuring that
more than – 6 the State Governments
weeks & Soil utilise it for initial
moisture, GW emergency measures.
& SW level is  Enabling employment
alarmingly under MGNREGS as a
low). part of supplementary
employment and as a
social safety net support.
 Monitoring and visit of
deficit rainfall States
personally by each
designated area officer in
the Department
Apprising the

12
 developments to National
Crisis Management
Committee (NCMC) on
regular basis
 Measures for meeting the
shortage of secondary
and tertiary sectors
5 Acute 7-10 EXTREME • CAP  Decision by Cabinet for
Early (Water) Constitution of GoM /
(Potential withdrawal of (FULL
Task Force under the
BLOWN • CAP
Disaster) monsoon. DROUGHT) (Cattle chairmanship of a Union
Midseason Care) Minister of Cabinet rank
withdrawal.. • CAP to take decisions during
Severe deficit of (Social acute crisis
cumulative Sector)  Monitoring of drought
annual rainfall. • CAP affected States
Severe soil (Energy individually by each
moisture deficit. Sector) designated area officer in
No rainfall for • CAP the Department about
more than 4-6 (Health) ongoing relief measures.
weeks in sown • CAP  Weekly CMG meeting
area, resulting (Food & and monitoring of the
in crop damage PD) progress of drought relief
Severe shortage • CAP measures
in availability of (Labour  Review of visit by Area
GW and SW. & Officers to the deficit
(JUL–OCT) Employ rainfall States.
(Rainfall is less ment)  Strict Water conservation
than normal measures and monitoring
and below -25% of the release of canal
and the deficit water for irrigation
continue for  Constitution of Central
more than – 6 Teams to visit to drought
weeks & Soil declared States.
moisture, GW  Assessment of damages
& SW level is and estimation of losses
alarmingly for release of funds from
low). National Disaster
Response Fund (NDRF)
Special assistance to
farmers / dairy / poultry
/ fishery sectors
 Enabling employment
under MGNREGS as a
part of supplementary
employment and as a
social safety net support
 Revitalising the ongoing
programmes for
vulnerable sections of
society
 Preventive measures for
loss of human /cattle life
on account of potential
disaster.
 Measures for meeting the

13
 shortage of secondary
and tertiary sectors and
measures for economic
revival.
 Legislative measures like
issue of control orders for
maintaining sustained
supply of essential
commodities.
 Video Conferencing with
drought affected States.
6 Recovery >10-0 Mitigated • CAP  Rescheduling of farm
(Post (Water) loans
Disaster) (OCT–JUN) • CAP  Early release of input
(Cattle subsidy
Normal rainfall Care)  Payment of compensation
in Rabi and • CAP for losses in time to the
subsequent (Energy beneficiaries i.e. agri-
seasons. Easing Sector) insurance, National
• CAP Disaster Response Fund
of soil moisture
(Health) (NDRF) / State Disaster
stress situation
• CAP Relief Fund (SDRF)
Farming /Rural benefits etc.
(Emplo
community’s  Adequate availability of
yment
livelihood seeds for sowing in the
Guarant
requirements ee next season
Returning to Progra  Monitoring of the
normal activity. mmes) ongoing relief measures
• CAP and taking necessary
(Food & course correction
PD)  Simultaneous
• CAP documentation
(Labour  Monitoring of the climate
& and ensuring alternative
Employ arrangements against
ment) relapse of the drought.

Note: Contingency Action Plans (CAP) (in respect of Crop, Water, Cattle Care, Health, Energy Sector,

Food and livelihood Security) – (To be prepared by concerned Central Government Ministries /
Departments)

“The effective preparedness and prevention of the crisis in agriculture is

the foremost important task before the Government at Centre and State levels
during the paradigm of Drought Management. Preparation and implementation of
an effective Crop Contingency Planning would address the mitigation of crisis in
agriculture. The Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA),
Hyderabad under ICAR has been preparing district-wise contingency plans in
collaboration with State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) / Indian Council of
Agricultural Research (ICAR) Institutes / Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). The

14
district-wise contingency plans for selected districts in respect of Andhra
Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu are now
available in the website of the Department www.agricoop.nic.in.

Specific Attention to Water User Groups:

Water User Groups Potential Actions

• Public Water Suppliers
Leak Repair

• Municipal Waste Discharges
Non-Essential Water use restrictions
• Agriculture
Pressure Reduction

Voluntary Water Conservation
• Industry (Infrastructure, Food

Mandatory Water Conservation
processing including beverages,

Emergency Source Enhancement
others(heavy industry, mining)

Interconnection
• Power Production (Hydro electric)

Major User Restriction
• Recreation (Parks, fountains etc.)
Emergency Rate Structures

4. Strategic Activity Planner

Activity Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May

DROUGHT PREPAREDNESS

Reviewing CMP

Monitoring

Rainfall

Temperature

Surface water level

Normal Area Vs
Sown area

Assessment

Drinking water
availability

Irrigation water
availability

15
Soil Moisture

Fodder availability

Food grains
availability

Energy Sector
requirement

16
Activity Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May

Inputs and Seed

availability

Water Conservation measures

Check dams /
Water sheds

Rain Water
Harvesting

Ground Water
Recharge

Protection of
aquatic resources
for aquaculture

DROUGHT REPORTING

Early Warning System (EWS)

Forecast of
Contingency
Cropping

Forecast of Crop
Loss

Forecast of Water
Deficiency

Forecast of Food
insecurity

Forecast of Cattle
feed deficit

Declaration of
Drought

Estimation

Unsown area

Crop Loss due to

drought

Potential Water
deficit

17
 For irrigation

For drinking

Fodder
requirement,
availability,
additional
demand for cattle
care

Loss to AH/
Fisheries

Loss to Energy
Sector (fuel and
hydroelectricity)

DROUGHT RESPONSE

Propagation of
Forecast through
Extension
Services

18
Activity Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May

Propagation of
contingency
cropping

Promotion of
agro forestry

Issue of Agro
advisories

Issue of General
advisories

CRF release

Alternative
employment

Food Security to
vulnerable
Sections

Food grain
requirement of
farming
community

Processing of
request for
additional
financial
assistance

Water and
Fodder
movement

Energy Sector
requirement
(Import /
Indigenous
procurement
from outside the
State)

Cattle & animal

welfare (Vet.)

Cattle camp

19
Encouraging of
community
welfare
organizations for
mitigation efforts
and monitoring
of their activity

20
 5. Agencies responsible for Identified Activities
Activity Primary Secondary Tertiary
Monitoring

Reviewing CMP DAC MHA / NDMA NCMC

Dept. of Agriculture and

Rainfall IMD States Cooperation (DAC)

Temperature IMD States DAC

Surface water level CWC / MoWR States DAC

Ground Water level CGWB / MoWR States DAC

Monitoring of Agricultural IMD / NRSC / ICAR

Drought States Institutes DAC

Assessment

DWS

MoWR (CGWB) /
Drinking water availability States PHED (MoUD) DAC

Irrigation water availability States MoWR DAC

NRSC / IMD / DAC

MoWR (Irrigation
Soil Moisture States Wing) (NRM Division)

Fodder, cattle feed and

poultry feed availability States Do AH&D DAC

Food grains availability States D/o F&PD DAC

M/o Power /
Petroleum &
Energy Sector requirement States Natural Gas DAC

State / National
agencies /
corporations for DAC (Seeds PP & INM
Seeds/ Fertilizers / Div) /
Pests &
Inputs and Seed availability States Insecticides D/o Fertlizers

Water Conservation
measures

DAC / RD (LR) /
Check dams / Water sheds States MoWR DAC (NRM Division)

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Deficit irrigation, Sprinkler
and drip irrigation, reuse of
irrigation water, use of water MoWR (Irrigation
of suboptimal quality States Wing) DAC

Rain Water Harvesting &

Water Shed Management States MoWR / CGWB DAC

Ground Water Recharge States CGWB MoWR

Adjustment in sanction
water /Water Pricing States CWC MoWR

Public Health
Monitoring of Water levels Engineering
in Head works such as Jack ULB / Implementing Department / State
wells and Tubewells Agency Governments DAC

Public Health
Engineering
Judicial use of available ULB / Department Department / State
water in-charge of O&M Governments MoWR

Planning of naturally
drought restraint crops with
less water consumption and ICAR / Directorate
duration States of Extension DAC (Crops Division)

Water Supply system for

drought prone areas for
arranged supply of water to
commercial and industrial
activities having low water
consumption States CWC MoWR

Reduction in conveyance
loss, evaporation from soil
surface, renovation and
percolation of tanks, water
consciousness States CWC MoWR

Early Warning System

(EWS)

Forecast of Contingency
Cropping States ICAR / DAC (Extn.) DAC

Forecast of Crop Loss States ICAR / DAC (Extn.) DAC

Forecast of Water Deficiency States MoWR / DWS DAC

Forecast of Food Insecurity States D/o Food & PD DAC

Forecast of Cattle feed deficit States D/o AHD DAC

22
Declaration of Drought States

Estimation

Normal Area Vs sown area States DAC

Unsown area States DAC

Crop Loss due to drought States DAC

Loss to Animal Husbandry

& Fisheries Sector States DoAHD&F

Potential Water deficit

For irrigation States MoWR DAC

For drinking States DWS DAC

Fodder / cattle feed /

poultry feed requirement,
availability, additional
demand for cattle care States DoAHD&F DAC

Loss to Energy Sector and

Requirement of Energy Power / Petroleum
Sector States & Natural Gas DAC

23
Drought Mitigation

Extensions
Propagation of Forecast
through Extn. Services Agencies / KVKs States DAC

Propagation of contingency
cropping States ICAR DAC

Respective
Intensification of
agricultural activities with Missions /
support from Centrally
Sponsored Schemes agencies States DAC

Respective

agencies /
Additional Availability of
seeds and other inputs corporations States DAC

Agriculture Coop Banks /

Nationalised & Scheduled
Credit Support Banks NABARD / RBI States DAC

Propagation of agro
forestry States M/o E&F DAC

Issue of Agro advisories States DAC

Issue of General advisories States DAC

SDRF release M/o Finance States

D/o Rural
Alternative employment States Development DAC

Food Security to vulnerable M/o WCD / SJ & E /

Sections States RD DAC

Food grain requirement of

farming community States D/o F&PD DAC

Request for additional

financial assistance from
NDRF etc. States DAC HLC / M/o Finance

Water and Fodder

movement States Railways DAC

Packaged / Bottled potable D/o DWS, WCD,

water States SJ&E, RD DAC

Power / Petroleum &

Energy Sector requirement States Natural Gas DAC

Cattle & Animal Welfare

(Vet.) States D/o AH,D&F DAC

24
Cattle camp States D/o AH,D&F DAC

Monitoring and
encouraging of NGOs /
VOs States Rural Development DAC

Taking over of the

exploratory wells in
drought prone areas States CGWB MoWR

Adoption of traditional
methods of water storage
and completion of ongoing
storage projects States CWC MoWR

Ministry/
Department of
Undertaking Mid/ Long – Panchayati Raj,
Term Drought Mitigation
Land Resources
activities under Centrally
Sponsored Programmes for Drinking Water
water shed, Backward Respective Supply, Rural
District
Regions, Drinking Water Departments in Development,
Supply, infrastructure Administrations States Agriculture

25
6. Monitoring & Reporting of Drought
Government of India has designed and launched an interactive web portal
for online reporting of drought related information in prescribed MIS format,
which is available at http://dacnet.nic.in/droughtmis. All States shall utilize the
web portal and enter all drought related information for monitoring drought and
planning for mitigation.

7. Dissemination of Information and Media Management

Sharing information with print, radio and television media is an important
aspect of drought management. The Central and State Governments should
provide information on all aspects of drought to the people and media.

Designated Spokespersons of Governments should be accessible to media

for providing information on drought, for which a communication outreach
strategy may be adopted. They should organise periodical briefings for
dissemination of information.

Additional Director General dealing with Agriculture in the Press

Information Bureau, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of
India would interact and disseminate periodical information to the media on the
drought related information as made available by the Additional Secretary and
Central Drought Relief Commissioner, Department of Agriculture and
Cooperation, Government of India.

8. Crisis Management Group

There shall be a Crisis Management Group (CMG) for Drought Management as is
defined in the Crisis Management Plan (National) to deal with various phases of
drought. The composition of the CMG for Drought is at Appendix I. Joint
Secretary (Drought Management), the nodal officer nominated by the Department
of Agriculture & Cooperation to coordinate with NCMC will be the Member-
Secretary of CMG. CMG under the Chairmanship of Additional Secretary &
Central Drought Relief Commissioner would periodically review the drought
preparedness, take appropriate decisions and report the developments to the
Agriculture Secretary and to National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC).
The issues to be decided by the Cabinet would be referred to NCMC for further
necessary action by the Cabinet Secretariat.

At State level, a similar set up as envisaged for the Centre shall be made to review
the crisis of drought.

At District level, the District Magistrate / Collector would be the head of the
Crisis Management Group to deal the issue at sub-district / block / Taluk level.

26
9. Nodal Officers

Besides State Relief Commissioners and State Agriculture Secretaries, line

Departments / Ministries/ offices / agencies of the Central Government,
responsible for different sets of activity connected with crisis management of
drought shall nominate an officer not below the rank of Director or equivalent in
the Government of India. The list of nodal officers containing their name,
designation, telephone (office / residence), FAX, e-mail, mobile number and
address shall be maintained in the Drought Monitoring Cell (Control Room) of the
Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Government of India and got updated
every month.

At District level, the District Magistrate / Collector would be the nodal officer of
the drought affected district, who will be co-opted in the drought management
spectrum at the time of acute crisis in their district.

10. Drought Management Contacts

• Composition of Crisis Management Group (CMG) – Appendix-1

• List of Nodal Officers of Line Ministries / Departments – Appendix-2
• List of Officers of Drought Management Division– Appendix-3
• Drought Emergency Response Mechanism –
Institutional Arrangements & Responsibilities - Appendix-4

11. Conclusion

The aim of the CMP (Drought) is to help all stake holders to be better prepared and
less vulnerable to drought. It will also result in a timely and effective response by
government agencies to reduce impacts during a drought crisis. The strategic
activity planner and identification of agencies responsible for managing the crisis is
aimed at demarcation of the duties of respective personnel in the identified
activity.

This plan enables the officials who are responsible to focus their efforts on
emerging crisis situations, which may require a unique response. As much as
decisions are taken in advance of a Crisis, it would make it possible that the
remaining decisions are taken easily through the Crisis. However, existence of a
National level mechanism and a holistic and integrated drought management plan
would reduce the focus of the Crisis Management Plan (CMP) towards relief and
rehabilitation in the event of full blown drought.

27
 Appendix -1

LIST OF MEMBERS OF CRISIS MANAGEMENT GROUP

1. Chairman - Special Secretary & Central Drought Relief

Commissioner

2. Members –

Nodal Officers of Line Ministry / Departments:

i. D/o Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries

ii. M/o Drinking Water and Sanitation
iii. M/o Earth Sciences
iv. M/o Environment & Forests
v. D/o Food & Public Distribution
vi. M/o Health & Family Welfare
vii. M/o Home Affairs
viii. India Meteorological Department
ix. M/o Labour & Employment
x. M/o Panchayati Raj
xi. M/o Petroleum & Natural Gas
xii. M/o Power
xiii. M/o Railways
xiv. D/o Rural Development
xv. M/o Urban Development
xvi. M/o Water Resources
xvii. M/o Women & Child Development

3. Member Secretary – Joint Secretary (Drought Management)

28
 Appendix -2

LIST OF NODAL OFFICERS OF THE LINE MINISTRIES /

DEPARTMENTS

S. Name of the Ministry / Department & Details of Nodal Officer / Alternate

No Address Nodal Officer
1. D/o Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Shri A. Nanda Kumar,
Fisheries, Director (SS),
Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi Room No.532-A,
Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.
Tel: 23070149

2. M/o Drinking Water and Sanitation, Shri T.M. Vijay Bhaskar,

CGO Complex, Joint Secretary,
Paryavaran Bhavan, Tel: 24361043
Lodhi Road, New Delhi. Fax: 24364113

Alternate Nodal Officer

Dr. Dinesh Chand,
Additional Adviser (PHE),
Tele: 24366660 (O)

3. M/o Earth Sciences, Dr. K.J. Ramesh,

IMD Campus, Mausam Bhawan, Scientist ‘G’/Adviser (Multi Hazards)
apposite India Habitat Centre, Tele fax-24622059
Prithvi Bhawan, Tele Res-24677374
Room No.319 Mobile-9868733464
Lodhi Road,New Delhi. E-mail: [email protected],
New Delhi-110003 [email protected]

4. M/o Environment & Forests, Shri N.C. Saravanan,

th
7 floor, Paryavaran Bhavan, CGO Assistant Inspector General of Forests,
Complex, Lodi Road, National Afforestation and Eco
New Delhi-110003 Development Board, M/o Environment &
Forests,
Tele:24364981
Fax:24361704

5. D/o Food & Public Distribution, Shri Naveen Prakash,

Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi. Joint Secretary (Policy & FCI), 194,
Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.
Tel: 23382529 (O)

Shri N.K. Maurya,

Joint Director (Movement)
R.No.182-B,
Tel:23382709 (O)
Tel: 24673145 (R)

29
6. M/Health & Family Welfare, Dr. R.S. Sukla,
Directorate General of Health Services Joint Secretary,
(EMR), Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi. Tele: 23061706 (O)
23073669 (R)
Mob: 9910334726
Fax: 23061398

Alternate nodal officer

Dr. P.R. Ravindran,
Director (EMR)
Tel: 23061302
45639559 (R)
Mob: 9868619799
Fax: 23061457
7. M/o Home Affairs, Shri Dev Kumar,
1st Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Director (NDM-I)
Lodhi Road, New Delhi. Telfex: 24642853
Mob: 9871087616
Tel: 26266708 (R)
E-mail:[email protected]

Alternate Nodal Officer

Shri J.P. Misra, Director (NDM-II)
Tel: 24622543
Res: 24100688
E-mail: [email protected]
8. Indian Meteorological Department Shir B.K. Bandopadhyay,
Mausam Bhavan, DDGM (Services)
Lodi road, Tel: 24635664
New Delhi. E-mail: [email protected]

Alternate Nodal Officer

Shri Awadhesh Kumar,
Scientist ‘E’
Tel: 24611068
E-mail:[email protected]

9. M/o Labour & employment Shri R.L. Singh,

Shram Shakti Bhavan, Deputy Director General,
New Delhi. Room No.511,
Shram Shakti Bhavan, New Delhi.
Tel: 23710485
10. M/o Panchyati raj, Shri Avtar singh Sahota,
Sardar Patel Bhavan, Joint Secretary,
New Delhi. Tel: 23747910
Fax: 23747930
11. M/o Petroleum & Natural Gas, Ms. Rashmi Aggarwal,
Shastri Bhavan, Director (Distribution)
New Delhi. Room No.205, ‘B’ wing,
nd
2 floor, shastri Bhawan, New Delhi.
Tel: 23385339

Alternate Nodal Officer

Ms. Sushma Rath, Director (Mkt.)
Room No.211-B,
Tele:23386407

30
12. M/o Power, Shri G. Sai Prasad,
Shram Shakti Bhavan, Joint Secretary (OM),
Rafi Marg, New Delhi. Room No.209, Shram Shakti Bhavan,
Tel: 23714842

Alternate Nodal Officer

Shri A.K. Saxena,
Director (OM), room No.219
Tele: 23716674(o)
26266166 (R )
E-mail:[email protected]
13. M/o Railways, Shri I.Jeyakumar,
Railway Board Director(POL),
Rail Bhavan, Room No.152
New Delhi. Tel:23384641

Alternate Nodal Officer

Shri Sandeep Jain,
Director, Safety-III
Room No.362
Rail Bhawan, New Delhi
Tel:23303239
14. D/o Rural Development Ms. Indu Sharma,
Krishi Bhavan, Director (MGNREGA),
New Delhi. Room No.250, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.
Tel: 23388431
Mob: 98187973322
E-mail: [email protected]

15. M/o Urban Development (CPHEEO) Shri M. Dhinadhayalan,

Nirman Bhavan, Deputy Adviser (PHE)
New Delhi. Room No.654, A Wing,
Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi.
Tel: 23062418
Fax: 23062559

Alternate Nodal Officer

Shri V.K. Chaurasia,
Deputy Adviser (PHE),
R.No.660-A, Nirman Bhawan,
Tel: 23061144 (O)
Fax: 23062559
16. M/o Water Resources, Shri Vijay Kumar Nagpure,
th
Block No.11, 8 floor, Director
CGO Complex, Lodi road, Water Management Directorate, Central
New Delhi. Water Commission, Room No.225 (S),
Sewa Bhawan, R.K. Puram, New Delhi.
Tel: 26107403 (o)
E-mail: [email protected]

17. M/o Women & Child Development Smt. Kalyani Chadha, Director,
Shastri Bhavan, Ministry of Women & Child
New Delhi. Development, Room No.640-A Shastri
Bhavan, New Delhi.
Tel: 23384714 (o)
26863303 (R)

31
 Appendix-3

DETAILS OF OFFICERS OF DROUGHT MANAGEMENT DIVISION

S. Name & Designation Room Telephone E-mail

No. No.

1. Shri A.S. Lamba, 147 23389348 (O) [email protected]

Special Secretary & 23381305 (Fax)

Central Drought Relief
Commissioner 26196963 (R)

2. Shri Atanu Purkayastha, 244 23381503 (O) [email protected]

Joint Secretary 23387669 (Fax)

23078242 (R)

3. Shri V.B. Dubey, 248 23388606 (O) [email protected]

Director 25275226 (R)

4. Shri Mohan Lal Meena, 25-A 23383309 (O) [email protected]

Under Secretary (DM)

5. Shri P.V.R. Rajasekharam, 22 23389453 (O) [email protected]

Under Secretary (DMC) 23384555 (Fax)

6. Drought Management 387 23383309 [email protected]

Section (Telefax)

7. Drought Monitoring Cell 22 23389453 (O) [email protected]

(Control Room)
23384555 (Fax)

32
 Appendix-4

DROUGHT EMERGENCY RESPONSE MECHANISM – Institutional Arrangements & Responsibilities-(Synoptic view)

ICAR IMD / MoWR

NCMRWF

Policy Decision
CWWG PMO
Once a week feedback
SECRETARY
(AGRI)
Policy Decision
Early warning Appraisals

Assessments

AM
Crisis Response (SOS) CRISIS

MANAGEMENT Coordination
DMD DMD Appraisals

Over-all
- Assessment Drought Assessment &
AFFECTED
CAB Assess-
- Sanction Assistance Feed back ments
- Coordination STATES SECT
- Relief
- Documentation

Legend: AM- Agriculture Minister; CWWG- Crop Weather Watch Group;Notes:

Cab Sect- Cabinet Secretariat; DMD-Drought Management Division; MoWR- Ministry of
Water Resources; ICAR-Indian Council of Agricultural Research; NCMRWF-National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting; PMO- Prime Minister’s Office
SOS- When Need Arises
33