Need to improve meteorological observation and forecasting: Shinde

New Delhi – Asserting that the need of the hour is to improve our early warning systems and ensure rigorous enforcement measures, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Friday said while it may not be possible to completely eliminate natural disasters, latest technology must be adopted to see that the suffering and hardship due to such disasters is reduced.

Addressing the ninth formation day function of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) here, Shinde said: “New disciplines are emerging at the interface of traditional boundaries. One such area where we need to concentrate is to enhance our hydrological observation and forecasting capability to predict flash floods in the hilly regions.”

“We need to improve our capabilities for meteorological observation and forecasting. It is commonly observed that communication takes the first ‘hit’ in such an event. It is therefore, necessary that the authorities have effective communication tools and a fail-safe connection,” he added.

Stating that the Uttarakhand natural disaster, which was unprecedented in both scale and magnitude, has also raised some serious concerns, Shinde said: “We need to see that the lessons of Uttarakhand disaster will not go in vain. There is a need for all the Himalayan States to take up mitigation measures.”

“The framework of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 enables the State Governments to revisit and reorient their State Disaster Management Plans to ensure preparedness for preventing such intense devastation, loss of human lives and destruction of property,” he added.

Shinde further complimented the NDMA to build a safe and disaster resilient India by developing a holistic, proactive, multi-disaster oriented and technology driven strategy.

“I would like to compliment the NDMA on its achievements so far in its endeavor to build a safe and disaster resilient India by developing a holistic, proactive, multi-disaster oriented and technology driven strategy through a culture of prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response.”

“However, NDMA will need to devote itself to these national challenges in the years to come,” he said.
“It will have to take up the leadership in guiding the Central and State Government agencies for interweaving disaster management aspects in all developmental activities,” he added.