National Disaster Response Force gets new DG in Atul Karwal

PS officer Atul Karwal on Monday took charge as new director general (DG) of NDRF, federal contingency force for combating man-me and natural disasters.

1988-batch Indian Police Service officer of Gujarat cre was handed over ceremonial baton by his batchmate and incumbent NDRF chief S N Prhan.

Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) heed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi h last week issued order appointing Karwal as new NDRF DG.

government order for Karwal h said that post of NDRF DG, usually an ditional DG of police rank post, is being "temporarily upgred to level of DG on personal basis for a period of two years from date of joining post or untill furr orders, whichever is earlier". 

Karwal has been serving as director of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Acemy (NPA) located in Hyderab.

Karwal, a professional mountaineer, will continue to hold ditional charge of NPA till government appoints a full time chief.

National Disaster Response Force was raised on January 19, 2006 as a federal contingency combat wing to undertake specific tasks of relief and rescue during natural and man-me disasters or life threatening situations. It has 12 operational battalions based in various parts of country while four more have been sanctioned by Union government and are being raised.

Prhan, who belongs to Jharkhand cre of IPS, has recently been appointed as full-time DG of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

anti-narcotics ncy, recently in news due to controversies and allegations of extortion linked to October raids on a cruise in Mumbai, got a full time he after over two years.

Its last full-time DG was IPS officer and current Odisha DGP Abhay who was appointed as director of NPA in July, 2019.

Following this order, current Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana held NCB DG charge in an ditional capacity and when he was appointed as Delhi Police Commissioner in July, Prhan held post as an ditional charge. 

IM: PTI