23. (1) During the period an area is an affected area the District Magistrate may issue directions to the officers of the departments of the Government and the local authority in the affected area, to provide emergency relief in accordance with the disaster management plans.
(2) The District Magistrate may
(i) make arrangements for release and use of available resources;
(ii) control and restrict traffic to, from and within the area affected by a disaster ;
(iii) control and restrict the entry into, movement within and departure from any disaster area or part of it ;
(iv) remove debris ;
(v) conduct search and rescue operations ;
(vi) make arrangements for the disposal of the unclaimed dead body, by appropriate means ;
(vii) provide alternative shelter ;
(viii) provide food, medicines and other essentials ;
(ix) require experts and consultants in the matters relevant to the disaster to provide relief under his direction and supervision ;
(x) to take possession and make use of any property, vehicles, equipment, buildings and means of communication on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed;
(xi) procure exclusive or preferential use of amenities as and when required ;
(xii) construct temporary bridges or other structures ;
(xiii) demolish unsafe structures which may endanger the public ;
(xiv) coordinate with non-governmental organizations and ensure that such entities carry out their activities in any equivable manner;
(xv) disseminate information to the public to deal with the disaster ;
(xvi) direct and compel evacuation, of all or part of the population form any affected area for the purpose of preservation of life and for such evacuation, and for such evacuation use such force as may be necessary ;
(xvii) authorize any person, to make any entry into any place, to open or cause to be opened, any door, gate or other barrier, if he considers such an action is necessary for preservation of life and property, if the owner or occupier is absent, or being present, refuses to open such door, gate or barrier.
(3) The District Magistrate may exercise the powers contained in sub-section (2) to the extent only that this is necessary for the purpose of
(a) assisting and protecting the community ;
(b) providing relief to the community ;
(c) preventing or combating disruption ; or
(d) dealing with the destructive and other effects of the disaster.
(4) The District Magistrate may issue such directions to any person or government agency and take such other steps, as may be necessary to curtail the escalation of the disaster or to alleviate, contain or minimize the effects of disaster.