New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra today held a virtual meeting with Chief Ministers of six states, to review their preparedness to deal with south-west monsoon and current flood situation in the country.
The states that attended the meeting are Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala.
During the virtual interaction, the Prime Minister emphasised on extensive use of innovative technologies for improving forecast and warning system, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
He also stressed on better coordination between all central and state agencies to have a permanent system for forecasting of floods, it added.
PM Modi said that over the past few years, our forecasting agencies like India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Central Water Commission (CWC) have been making concerted efforts to make better and more usable flood forecasts. They are trying to provide not only rainfall and river level forecast but also location specific forecast of inundation, he added.
PM Modi also mentioned that investment should be increased in localised early warning system so that people in a particular area can be provided with timely warning in case of any threatening situation such as breach of river embankment, inundation level, lightning etc.
Meanwhile, in view of COVID-19 situation, the Prime Minister emphasized that while undertaking rescue efforts, States must ensure that people follow all health precautions such as wearing of face mask, hand sanitization and maintain adequate physical distance.
And special provisions should be made for elderly people, pregnant women and people with co-morbidity, he said.
PM Modi further conveyed that, States should also ensure that all development and infrastructure projects must be built with resilience to withstand local disasters and to help in reducing consequential losses.
During the meeting, the chief minister’s of Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, gave update on the flood situation and rescue efforts being made in their respective states.
They also complimented the efforts of central agencies including NDRF teams in timely deployment and rescuing people and gave some suggestions for short-term and long-term measures for mitigating the effects of floods, the Prime Minister’s office said.
PM Modi further directed the officers of concerned ministries and organisations to take action on the suggestions given by the States and assured that the Centre will continue to provide its support to the States and Union Territories in order to strengthen their capabilities for dealing with various disasters.
However, the meeting was also attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, both the minister of State in Home Affairs, and senior officers of the concerned central ministries and organisations.
-RJV
