SRINAGAR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday chaired a high-level review meeting on 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 system for glacial and high-risk lakes, stating that around 60 lakes across Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim should be brought under a surveillance and alert mechanism with support from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
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 disasters.
Shah further instructed all states to constitute and operationalise Flood Crisis Management Teams (FCMTs) to effectively handle flood-related emergencies.
He also asked the NDMA to conduct a comprehensive assessment of how many states are implementing the Union Home Ministry’s guidelines on floods, forest fires and heatwave management.
Emphasising proactive planning, Shah said all efforts should be directed towards achieving the vision of “zero-casualty disaster management” in the country.
The Home Minister underlined the need to enhance water conservation measures through water storage projects and the construction of check dams to improve groundwater levels and mitigate the impact of rising temperatures and heatwaves.
He also stressed the proper utilisation of the CAMPA Fund to maintain ecological balance and reduce environmental degradation.
Describing climate change as 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 to the public in order to minimise loss of life and property.
The meeting was attended by Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil, the Union Home Secretary, senior officials from various ministries and members of the NDMA. (KNC)
