Meetings with central team: HP seeks flood forecasting unit, revised disaster relief norms
The central team, constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, is tasked with examining the rising trend of natural calamities such as cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides in the state, and to suggest scientifically backed remedial measures to both the state and central governments. The team is led by Col K P Singh, Advisor (Operations & Communications), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and comprises Dr S K Negi (CSIR-CBRI, Roorkee), Prof Arun Kumar (retd geologist, Manipur University), Dr Neelima Satyam (IIT Indore), and Dr Susmita Joseph (IITM Pune).
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary apprised the team of the alarming rise in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events in Himachal Pradesh over the past few years. He noted that the state has faced extensive damage to life, infrastructure, and the environment, with climate change emerging as a key underlying factor.
'Hilly states face unique challenges in disaster preparedness, response, and rehabilitation. It is, therefore, crucial to understand the root causes behind these disasters so we can develop targeted and effective mitigation strategies,' Saxena said.
In a separate meeting, Additional Chief Secretary Pant echoed these concerns and called for a revision of national norms governing disaster relief and rehabilitation to suit the specific topographical and climatic conditions of Himalayan states like Himachal Pradesh. He emphasised the importance of pre-disaster planning over post-disaster relief and called for the installation of advanced sensors and monitoring systems.
Pant also underlined the need to establish a dedicated flood forecasting unit in Himachal with support from the Central Water Commission (CWC), and advocated for detailed glacial lake studies and real-time hydrological monitoring.
Special Secretary (Revenue-Disaster Management) D C Rana gave a comprehensive presentation, revealing that since 2018, the state has recorded 148 cloudbursts, 294 flash floods, and over 5,000 landslides. He informed the team that the estimated losses due to natural disasters in 2023 alone stood at nearly ₹10,000 crore while the state continues to incur annual damage between ₹1,000 and ₹ 2,000 crore.
Experts from the DGRE-DRDO and Geological Survey of India (GSI) also participated, with the MSCT urging both institutions to intensify data-sharing and conduct focused studies on high-altitude hazards, sudden floods, and landslide vulnerability.
The MSCT will conduct field visits and is expected to submit its final assessment report within a week to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
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