Modi: Better contact among agencies must

New Delhi, Aug. 10: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday underlined the need to have a better coordination between all 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 forecast and warning system.

The Prime Minister made these remarks at a virtual meeting with the chief ministers 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 in the country, were Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala.

A statement from the

PMO said at the meeting, Mr 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.

The meet, which lasted 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 also asserted that in view of the Covid-19 situation, the states must ensure that people follow all health precautions.