NEW DELHI: The Union home secretary, who is chairman of the national executive committee that coordinates and monitors disaster management , has delegated its powers such as giving directions to, Central ministries and departments as well as state governments and authorities regarding measures to be taken to enhance preparedness and contain novel coronavirus.“In exercise of the power conferred under Section 69 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, Union home secretary being chairman of the National Executive Committee (NEC) hereby delegates its power under clauses (i) and (ii) of sub-section (2) of Section 10 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 to secretary, ministry of health and family welfare, Government of India to enhance preparedness and containment of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the other ancillary matters connected thereto. This order shall be deemed to have come into effect from 17th January, 2020,” the home ministry stated in an order issued on Wednesday.Meanwhile, the health ministry has been asked to advise all states and UTs to invoke provisions of Section 2 of Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 so that all advisories being issued from time to time by the ministry of health & family welfare/state/UTs are enforceable. As per Section 3 of Epidemic Disease Act, any person disobeying any regulation or order made under this Act shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code