No.113/2021-2022

Aizawl the 6th May, 2021 : The recent devastating outbreak of fire from 24.04.2021 onwards in different Districts of the State have devoured several acres of valuable forest areas, farmlands and private properties, and as the fires continue to pose a direct threat to human settlements, farms, wildlife and forest resources, there is an urgent need to investigate the causes, extent of damages and effectiveness of containment measures being deployed. And it is also the need of the hour to examine the rules, laws, regulations and modalities currently in place so as to discover lacunae in the current system in order to effectively mitigate similar catastrophes in future, a committee for the purpose needs to be constituted.

Therefore, the undersigned in his capacity as Chairman, State Executive Committee, and in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 22(b), (g) and (h) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 hereby constitutes a State Level Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the outbreak of fires from 24.04.2021 onwards with the following composition -

1. Pu R.S Sinha,IFS - Chairman
Chief Conservator of Forests (Administration)

2. Pu C. Lalthanmawia, MPS - Member
Director, Fire& Emergency Services

3. Pu. J Lalthafamkima Jongte, MPS - Member
AIG (Ops), Police Headquarters

4. Pu John LT Sanga, MCS - Member Secretary
Director, Disaster Management & Rehabilitation

The terms of reference of the State Level Special Investigation Team shall be as follows-

a) To find out reason and causes of the outbreak of fire.
b) To assess the extent of damages caused by the fire.
c) To examine and document the various means deployed for control and containment of the fires.
d) To examine the existing provisions of laws, instructions and institutions in place to mitigate, prevent and respond to fires and to recommend any modifications or supplements that may be needed.
e) To make recommendation for measures, modalities, regulations etc. that may be put in place to avoid outbreak of the fire in the future.
f) The District Administration and Investigation Teams constituted at District levels by the Deputy Commissioners shall render all necessary support to the Special Investigation Team.

The team shall submit its recommendations to the Government within a period of two (2) months from the issue of this notification.

The State Level SIT shall make its report after thoroughly examining and collating information from all concerned Departments/DDMA, NGOs, volunteers involved in the containment efforts and eye witness accounts.

The SIT shall be bound by any other instructions that may be given by the State Disaster Management Authority or the State Executive Committee.

Further, in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 22 (h) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the undersigned hereby instructs that all Departments and Government offices from which the Special Investigation Team requires information and cooperation shall provide the same without delay.