PM Modi reviews situation in six flood-affected states
ALARMING Bihar flags Nepal’s non-cooperation in maintaining embankments on other side
PATNA/NEW DELHI : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday underlined the need for better coordination between the central and state agencies to have a permanent system for forecasting of floods. He also stressed on extensive use of innovative technologies for improving the forecastand-warning system.
The PM made these remarks during a virtual meeting with the chief ministers and representatives of six states to review the flood situation in various parts of the country.
The states that attended the meeting, which was convened to review their preparedness to deal with the southwest monsoon and the current flood situation, were Assam, Bihar, UP, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said at the meeting, Modi highlighted that the investments in localised early warning systems should be increased so that the people of an area can be cautioned on time in case of a threatening situation such as breached river embankments, inundation or lightning.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar drew the Prime Minister’s attention to how Nepal did not cooperate in carrying out annual maintenance work on embankments falling on the other side of the International Border, across Darbhanga and Madhepura districts, and also pitched for the removal of 25% cap on the amount to be spent for extending gratuitous relief to affected people in times of natural calamities.
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 an official level, embankment repair works could not be completed on schedule in May and got extended to June-end this year.”
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government demanded setting up of a committee for tackling crisis situations in states and ensuring a better coordination. Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray sought an immediate central assistance for Maharashtra in view of the June 3 Cyclone Nisarga that caused widespread damage in the state’s coastal districts.
The Karnataka government said it requested the prime minister to provide an additional special assistance of ~4,000 crore to handle the flood situation.
The meet, which lasted for nearly an hour and a half, was also attended by defence minister Rajnath Singh, health minister Harsh Vardhan, ministers of state for home Nityanand Rai and G Kishan Reddy, and senior officers of the central ministries and organisations concerned.
The prime minister asserted that in view of the Covid-19 situation, the states must ensure that people follow all health precautions such as wearing of face masks, hand sanitisation and maintaining an adequate physical distance with each other while undertaking rescue efforts.
Modi said the states should ensure that all development and infrastructure projects are built with resilience to withstand local disasters and help reduce the consequential losses.
The prime minister pointed out that over the last few years, forecasting agencies such as the India Meteorological Department and the Central Water Commission are making concerted efforts to make better and more usable flood forecasts. Pilot projects are underway to use innovative technologies to improve the location-specific forecasts, for which the states should provide the necessary information to these agencies and disseminate warnings to the local communities, Modi said. “The prime minister emphasised on better coordination between all central and state agencies to have a permanent system for forecasting of floods,” the PMO statement said.