Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting in New Delhi to assess India’s flood management preparedness ahead of the monsoon season.
The meeting, attended by key officials from disaster management agencies, focused on enhancing India’s capabilities through technology-driven solutions and improved inter-agency coordination.
Shri Shah stressed the importance of utilising space technology to enhance flood control measures, urging central agencies to adopt advanced forecasting tools. He highlighted the need for efficient communication between the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), state authorities, and local districts to ensure timely disaster response.
One of the key directives from the meeting was improving highway drainage systems through collaborative efforts between the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and state governments. Shri Shah also called for increased accuracy in flood forecasting by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Central Water Commission (CWC), reinforcing India’s commitment to a zero-casualty approach in disaster management.
Additionally, the Home Minister emphasised the importance of afforestation in river basins, particularly in the Narmada region, as a long-term flood mitigation strategy. He directed the Ministry of Jal Shakti to prioritise wetland rejuvenation in the Brahmaputra basin, aiming to prevent flooding while promoting economic and tourism activities.
The meeting also discussed measures for flood management in urban areas, recognising the growing challenges posed by heavy rainfall in short durations. Shri Shah encouraged collaboration between ministries and agencies to devise a comprehensive strategy for flood control in India’s major cities.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India has significantly improved disaster preparedness, Shri Shah asserted. He expressed confidence that with enhanced coordination and technology adoption, India would soon set global benchmarks in flood management.
