Central team urged to look into causes of recurring disasters
Himachal has urged the Central Government to get a detailed study conducted by experts from reputed institutions like the Central Water Commission and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) into the causes of natural disasters that had ravaged Himachal in the recent past.
A meeting of the multi-sectoral Central team constituted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to investigate the increasing incidents of natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh was held under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) KK Pant today. Team leader Col KP Singh and members SK Negi, Arun Kumar, Neelima Satyam and Sushmita Joseph attended the meeting.
Pant said that the geographical conditions of Himachal Pradesh were different from other states, making it necessary to revise norms related to recovery and rehabilitation after a rain disaster. He emphasised the need to set up a flood forecasting unit in the state with the support of the Central Water Commission to enhance hydrological monitoring and study glacial lakes.
He stressed the importance of mapping disaster-prone areas and focusing on early forecasting of such events. “Emphasis should be laid on pre-disaster planning rather than post-disaster response to minimise the loss of life and property. The installation of advanced sensors to improve data collection in the state will be very beneficial,” he added.
Pant said that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had been advocating for a detailed study regarding the increasing incidents of cloudburst since 2023. Neeraj from the DGRE-DRDO and Atul from the GSI also attended the meeting virtually. The Central team urged the DGRE-DRDO to provide data related to high-altitude regions and asked the GSI to focus more on the issues of sudden floods and landslides, which were the two major natural disasters occurring in Himachal Pradesh.
Special Secretary (Revenue and Disaster Management) DC Rana gave a detailed presentation on various natural disasters in the state. He said that since 2018, Himachal Pradesh had witnessed 148 cloudbursts, 294 flashfloods and over 5,000 landslides. He added that Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur and Mandi districts were extremely vulnerable to such events.
Rana apprised the Central team that during 2023, the state had suffered an estimated loss of around Rs 10,000 crore due to the rain disasters. Besides, the state suffered a loss of around Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 2,000 crore every year due to such events. He added that climate change was a major factor behind the rise in the number of cloudbursts, flashfloods and landslides. The team also held a meeting with Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena.
The Chief Secretary said that in the recent years, new challenges had emerged due to the frequency, scale, intensity and impact of cloudbursts, flashfloods and landslides. Such natural disasters had a long-lasting impact on the lives of the victims, social structure and overall development. Upon its return after making the final assessment, the Central team would submit its report within one week to the Disaster Management Division of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
Flood forecasting
- Emphasis laid on the need to set up a flood forecasting unit in the state with the support of the Central Water Commission to enhance hydrological monitoring and study glacial lakes
- Need for pre-disaster planning rather than post-disaster response stressed
Himachal Tribune