The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to modernize and strengthen India's disaster management framework by enhancing roles of existing authorities, incorporating climate risks, and promoting urban disaster preparedness

 Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025 Brings Major Reforms for Efficient Crisis Response. The Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025, has officially come into effect from April 9, 2025, following its passage in Parliament and Presidential assent on March 29, 2025.

The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to modernize and strengthen India's disaster management framework by enhancing roles of existing authorities, incorporating climate risks, and promoting urban disaster preparedness. While not explicitly mentioning the chemical industry's role, the bill's focus on risk assessment, technical assistance, and preparedness implicitly involves the industry, particularly in managing industrial accidents and chemical disasters. 

Key Aspects of the Bill:

Strengthened Disaster Authorities:

The Bill empowers the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) to prepare disaster plans, including risk assessment and technical assistance, and also empowers NDMA to make regulations. 

Statutory Status to Committees:

The bill provides legal backing to bodies like the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) and the High-Level Committee (HLC), formalizing their roles in managing major disasters and providing financial assistance. 

Urban Disaster Management Authorities:

The bill enables the formation of Urban Disaster Management Authorities (UDMAs) for state capitals and major cities, improving preparedness in urban areas. 

Disaster Database:

The bill mandates the creation of national and state-level disaster databases, including information on disaster risks, fund allocation, and preparedness plans. 

State Disaster Response Forces:

The bill empowers State governments to constitute State Disaster Response Forces (SDRFs) to enhance state-level disaster response capabilities. 

Role of the Chemical Industry:

Industrial Accidents:

The chemical industry is inherently prone to accidents that can cause disasters. The bill's focus on risk assessment and disaster preparedness can help the industry identify and mitigate potential hazards associated with chemical storage, transportation, and manufacturing. 

Emergency Response:

The bill's emphasis on strengthening disaster response mechanisms, including the formation of SDRFs, will be crucial in responding to chemical incidents. The SDRFs will need to be equipped and trained to handle chemical spills, leaks, and other emergencies. 

Collaboration and Coordination:

The bill's provisions for collaboration between different agencies and stakeholders can help improve coordination between the chemical industry, disaster management authorities, and other relevant bodies during a disaster. 

Capacity Building:

The chemical industry can play a vital role in capacity building for disaster preparedness and response. This can include providing technical expertise, training personnel, and sharing best practices. 

Climate Change Risks:

The bill's inclusion of climate change risks in disaster management planning is particularly relevant to the chemical industry, as extreme weather events can exacerbate existing hazards and create new ones. 

Overall:

The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, lays a stronger foundation for disaster management in India, with a greater emphasis on preparedness, risk reduction, and effective response. The chemical industry, given its inherent risks and potential impact on disasters, needs to align its operations and emergency response protocols with the provisions of the amended Act.