New Delhi, May 11: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday chaired a high-level meeting to review the country’s preparedness for floods and heatwaves, stressing the need for a “zero-casualty” approach in disaster management across India.
During the meeting, Shah directed authorities to expand the proposed early warning mechanism for glacial and high-risk lakes, stating that nearly 60 lakes located in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim should be brought under the surveillance and alert system with support from the National Disaster Management Authority.
According to an official statement, the Home Minister also called for the establishment of an integrated flood forecasting system at both Central and State levels to strengthen preparedness and response during natural calamities.
Shah further instructed all States to constitute and operationalise Flood Crisis Management Teams (FCMTs) to tackle flood-related emergencies effectively.
He also asked the NDMA to conduct a comprehensive assessment to determine how many States are implementing the Union Home Ministry’s guidelines related to floods, forest fires and heatwave management.
Highlighting the importance of proactive planning, Shah said all efforts should be directed towards achieving the vision of “zero-casualty disaster management” in the country.
The Home Minister emphasised the need for enhancing water conservation measures through water-storage projects and construction of check dams to improve groundwater levels and reduce the adverse effects of rising temperatures and heatwaves.
He also stressed the proper utilisation of the CAMPA Fund for maintaining ecological balance and mitigating environmental degradation.
Calling climate change a growing challenge, Shah said a comprehensive master plan should be prepared to address changing weather patterns and increasing disaster risks.
He further directed authorities to ensure wider and timely dissemination of weather forecasts and warnings among the public to minimise loss of life and property.
The meeting was attended by Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil, Union Home Secretary, senior officials of various ministries and members of the NDMA.(KNC)
