Thiruvananthapuram: In an ironic decision, the chief minister has rejected a proposal to appoint deputy collectors in charge of disaster management in two districts that are highly vulnerable to natural disasters — Wayanad and Idukki . The proposal, moved by revenue department after the Wayanad landslides, was rejected by finance department citing shortage of funds, as in most cases of post creations in govt. However, when it was placed in the cabinet to overrule finance department’s opinion, CM himself rejected the proposal, it is reliably learnt.
The CM is also the chairman of State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and directly handles the disaster management portfolio. This portfolio was taken over from the revenue minister in the second Pinarayi Vijayan govt. According to top govt sources, the proposals for appointing deputy collectors (disaster management) in districts with no such posts have been pending before govt for a long time and were being raised as a major issue at collectors’ conferences.
However, the cases of these two districts were moved once again after the Wayanad landslides, considering their vulnerability. Besides these two hill districts, Kasaragod, Kottayam, Palakkad and Kollam also don’t have such a post. The post of deputy collector (disaster management) is crucial in districts highly vulnerable to natural calamities since these officials have responsibilities relating to disaster preparedness and coordination among various govt arms in c.