PM Modi reviews situation in six flood-affected states; Read More-

New Delhi, Aug 10: Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on for better coordination between all central and state agencies to have a permanent system for forecasting of floods. He also emphasized on extensive use of innovative technologies for improving forecast and warning system. His remarks came as he held a meeting via video conference with chief ministers of six states - Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala to review their preparedness to deal with south-west monsoon and current flood situation in the country.

 

 

 

"Over the past few years, our forecasting agencies like India Meteorological Department and Central Water Commission 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," the PMO said in a statement.

 

PM Modi underlined that there are pilot efforts underway to also use innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence to improve locations specific forecast, for which States should provide necessary information to these agencies and timely disseminate the warnings to local communities. He 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.

 

 

Prime Minister 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.

 

Chief Ministers of Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala and Home Minister of Karnataka gave update on the flood situation, rescue efforts made in their respective States. They complimented the efforts of central agencies including NDRF teams in timely deployment and rescuing people. They also gave some suggestions for short-term and long-term measures for mitigating the effects of floods.

 

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar asserted that the Nepal government is not co-operating in carrying out annual maintenance work on embankments falling on the other side of the international border, across Darbhanga and Madhepura districts. He said, “Floods in north Bihar are invariably caused by heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of rivers originating from Nepal. But in the absence of required co-operation from the neighbouring country, despite reaching out on official level, embankment repair works could not be completed on schedule in May and got extended to June-end this year.”

 

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray demanded setting up of a committee under the prime minister for tackling crisis situations in states and ensuring better coordination. On the other hand, Karnataka home minister Basavaraj Bommai who represented Karanataka government said that according to an initial assessment, the state had suffered a loss of Rs 4,000 crore due to the floods. He has requested additional special assistance of Rs 4,000 crore to handle the flood situation.

 

"I apprised the Hon'ble Prime Minister about relief and rescue measures taken in Assam and thanked him for his continued support to the state," the Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal said.

 

In view of COVID situation, 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 relief materials must include provision for hand washing/ sanitizing and face masks for the affected people. In this regard, special provisions should be made for elderly people, pregnant women and people with co-morbidity, he added.

 

Further, he conveyed that States should ensure that all development and infrastructure projects must be built with resilience to withstand local disasters and to help in reducing consequential losses. The meeting that lasted for an hour and a half was also attended by Defence Minister, Health Minister, both the Minister of State in Home Affairs and senior officers of the concerned central ministries and organizations.