MHA urges states to strengthen civil defence measures amid escalating tensions with Pakistan

New Delhi: Amid rising tension between India and Pakistan, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked states to instruct local authorities to take measures necessary for the protection of people and property from injury or damage and ensure safety of vital services in the event of a hostile attack.

It has also asked states to give necessary emergency procurement powers to the Director of Civil Defence mechanism in respective states.

In a letter to Chief Secretaries of states and Administrators of union territories, Director General of Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards Vivek Srivastava said the states could invoke Section 11 of the Civil Defence Rules, 1968 and give powers to the Civil Defence Director emergency procurement powers so that efficient implementation of necessary precautionary measures can be implemented.

The Section 11 of Civil Defence Rules, 1968 empowers state governments to take such measures, which in the opinion of the state government, necessary for the protection of persons and property from injury or damage, or for ensuring the due maintenance of vital services, in the event of a hostile attack.

The funds of the local authority shall be applicable to the payment of expenses and priority shall be given to such compliance over all other duties and obligations of the local authority, Srivastava said.

On Friday, Home Minister Amit Shah also reviewed the prevailing situation along India's border with Pakistan and airports in the country. Those who attended the meeting were Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka and Directors General of the BSF, CISF and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.

Shah had also spoken to chiefs of the country's border guarding forces, including the BSF, on Thursday night following the increasing tension on the India-Pakistan border. The BSF guards the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders while the ITBP guards the border with China and the SSB guards the border with Nepal and Bhutan.