Context: Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack, the central government has directed all States and Union Territories to conduct mock drills on May 7, and strengthen civil defence mechanisms across Civil Defence Districts in the event of a hostile attack.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about the Civil Defence Act of 1968.
What are Civil Defence Districts?
- Demarcated areas or regions, including towns and districts, which the government designates for implementation of civil defence programmes.
- These are demarcated on the recommendation of the Ministry of Defence. There are in all 259 Civil Defence Districts notified in 2010. These are spread across all states and UTs and divided into three categories.
- Category I districts require full implementation of civil defence programmes.
- Category II and Category III require partial implementation in varying degrees.
- These demarcations are made based on the location of the towns or districts (such as near the borders), vulnerability to attacks, location of vital installations (such as defence installations, nuclear plants, thermal power plants, key government buildings, etc) and critical infrastructure (such as key highways, railways, ports etc.).
- The maximum number of such districts are in West Bengal, followed by Rajasthan, Assam, Punjab and J&K.
Civil Defence Mock Drills
The civil drills will ensure:
- Operationalisation of Air Raid Warning Sirens
- Operationalisation of Hotline/Radio Communication Links with the Indian Air Force;
- Activation and Manning of Control Rooms/ Shadow Control Rooms
- Training of civilians, students, etc. on the Civil Defence aspects to protect themselves in the event of hostile attack
- Activation of Civil Defence Services, especially, warden services, firefighting, rescue service, depot, etc.
- Provision of crash black out measures (a sudden switching off of lights to reduce a potential target’s visibility)
- Provision for early camouflaging of vital plants / installations
- Updation of Civil Defence Plan and its rehearsal
- Updation of evacuation plan and its rehearsal and cleaning of bunkers, trenches, etc.
Civil Defence Act of 1968:
The mock drills would be conducted under the Civil Defence Act of 1968.
- The Act empowers the government to restrict movement, impose curfews, control assemblies or gatherings, close roads, ports, and transport services as needed, in times of emergencies.
- The government may detain or arrest a person without the usual legal processes and even order killing of animals.
- It allows the government compulsory acquisition of property, requisitioning services, and controlling the supply and distribution of goods (especially essentials).
- The government can direct individuals or classes of persons to perform certain work or duties, and control industries crucial to national security.
- It empowers the government to regulate or censor communications, publications, and broadcasts.
The last time such elaborate drills were conducted in the country were during the build-up of the 1971 war.