New Delhi, Jun 12 (KNO): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership India’s disaster management is moving forward with a ‘Zero Casualty Approach’.
Chairing a high-level meeting here to review flood management preparedness in the country, Shah, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, “In 2014, India was far behind in the field of meteorology, but today under the leadership of Modi ji we are at par with developed countries, now we have to become No.1.”
He said that under the leadership of PM Modi highest priority has been accorded to remain prepared to reduce the impact of floods and other natural calamities.
The Union Home Minister directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to coordinate with the State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) for ensuring dissemination of early warning alerts to the grassroots level.
He urged all the States and Union Territories for timely implementation of the advisories issued by NDMA for flood management.
He asked NDMA and NDRF to work towards efficient flood management in full coordination with the states.
Notably, every year, Union Home Minister review the flood preparedness measures and on his directions a number of initiatives have been undertaken, including increasing the advance rainfall and flood forecasts by IMD and CWC from 3 to 7 days and improved parameters for heatwave forecast.
The Home Minister also discussed the new technologies adopted by all agencies for flood management and expansion of their network in the meeting.
He emphasized on maximum use of space technology by various central agencies for flood control and water management.
Shah, while appreciating Central Water Commission (CWC) and India Meteorological Department (IMD) for increasing the time limit regarding issuance of flood forecasting/advisory, emphasised on increasing the accuracy level of forecasts.
He said that the flood monitoring centers of the CWC should be in accordance with our requirements and of international standards. Shah advised Jal Shakti Ministry, NDMA and National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) to closely monitor the glacial lakes and take timely steps in the event of any type of outburst.
The Home Minister emphasized that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)/National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) should work with the States to ensure uniform design changes in the state and district highways also, so that highways drainage system becomes integral part of the designs of road construction to deal with inundation of roads, in case of heavy rains.
He said that NDMA should also coordinate with the state authorities for coordination between central agencies and states for flood preparedness and mitigation—(KNO)