As drought situation continues, the Centre today reviewed preparedness for various natural disasters with state governments and deliberated on ways to tackle them.
Inaugurating the annual conference of Relief Commissioners and Secretaries of the Department of Disaster Management of States and Union Territories here, Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi said the disasters or adversities are increasing in number and intensity in the country, ranging from earthquakes, droughts, floods, forest fires among others.
There is a need for better preparedness and putting comprehensive, improved risk reduction and mitigation measures in place, he said.
The Home Secretary took stock of the status of preparedness for southwest monsoon with the participating central agencies and states and UTs.
Mehrishi informed the participants that in the last financial year (2015-16), 21 states and one Union Territory reported damage caused by floods, landslides, cloudbursts and other disasters.
In these disasters, 1543 human lives were lost, about 16.54 lakh houses and huts damaged and crops over an area of 33.57 lakh hectares affected.
Mehrishi said the Ministry of Home Affairs and agencies such as National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) are sharing long-term measures and training with the states for necessary preparedness.
He said the participants should share their experiences in the conference and ensure that an early warning system is put in place.
Agencies such as India Meteorological Department, Indian Space Research Organization, Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), Central Water Commission, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, Geological Survey of India, Ministry of Defence and National Disaster Response Force are making presentations at the conference to share their efforts towards preparedness in dealing with disaster situations.
The assistance to states through National Disaster Response Fund and State Disaster Response Fund is being regularly extended by the central government and during the last financial year an amount of Rs 8,756 crore was released to different states from the SDRF in addition to release of Rs 12,452 crore from NDRF to the states.
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Representatives of 27 states, six Union Territories, National Disaster Response Force, central ministries, Central Armed Police Forces, Indian Meteorological Department, Central Water Commission, Indian National Center for Ocean Information Service, DRDO, GSI and other scientific organisations, along with armed forces participated the conference.
Issues connected with disaster preparedness, early warning systems, disaster management plans of the states and Union Territories were discussed.
Advance procurement of necessary relief material, checking readiness of the equipment and communication systems, community based disaster management and coordinated approach for disaster response at the district level were highlighted.
During the conference, it was noted that the concerted efforts of all concerned have helped in minimising the loss of precious human lives. The need for coordination among all central and state government agencies was re-emphasised.
The Indian Metrological Department, Department of Space, Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (Defence Research and Development Organisation), Central Water Commission, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Service, Geological Survey of India, Ministry of Defence, and National Disaster Response Force made presentations on their respective field of forecasting, warning mechanism and their future plans for enhancing capability in the field of disaster management.
The conference also discussed the measures and good practices being adopted by the state government and the Centre to address disaster management in the country.
