Why heatwaves have not been included as a notified disaster in the Disaster Management Act

• The ongoing spell of extreme heat in many parts of the country has once again reopened discussions on the inclusion of heatwaves as one of the notified disasters under the Disaster Management (DM) Act, 2005.

What are notified disasters?

• The DM Act was enacted in the wake of the 1999 Odisha super-cyclone and the 2004 tsunami.
• It defines a disaster as a “catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence” arising from “natural or man-made causes” that results in substantial loss of life, destruction of property, or damage to the environment.
• It must also be of such nature which is “beyond the coping capacity” of the community.
• If such an event happens, then the provisions of the DM Act can be invoked.
• The provisions allow states to draw money from the two funds that have been set up under this law — the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) at the national level and the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) at the state level.
• The states first utilise the funds available in the SDRF, and only if the magnitude of the disaster is unmanageable with the SDRF, states seek the money from the NDRF. In the FY 2023-24, only two states drew money from the NDRF
• While the entire money of the NDRF comes from the central government, states contribute 25% of the money in the SDRF (10% in case of special category states), the rest comes from the Centre.
• The money in these funds cannot be used for any purpose other than response and management of notified disasters.
• Currently, there are 12 categories of disasters which are notified under this Act.
• These are cyclones, drought, earthquake, fire, flood, tsunami, hailstorm, landslide, avalanche, cloudburst, pest attack, and frost and cold waves.

Why were heat waves not included as notified disasters?

• It was because heat waves were a common occurrence during summer, and not really an unusual weather event.
• States have put the demand of including heat waves as a notified disaster before the last three Finance Commissions - the periodically established Constitutional body that decides on the distribution of financial resources between the Centre and states.

Practical Difficulties

• Although unstated, the main reason behind the reluctance to add heatwave as a notified disaster is the potentially huge financial implication of the move.
• The government has to provide monetary compensation - Rs 4 lakh - for every life lost because of a disaster that is in the notified list. Grievous injuries also have to be compensated.