Dehradun: With the centre sanctioning an amount of Rs 1480 crore for disaster management to Uttarakhand, the disaster risk management capacity in the hill state will be further strengthened. Since Uttarakhand is a disaster-sensitive state, it requires a proper system to handle the disaster and reduce the response time.
The loan amount of Rs 1480 crore was sanctioned under the World Bank-aided five-year “Disaster Preparedness and Resilience Project” with the objective of strengthening disaster management and reducing response time.
The project aims to strengthen infrastructure
Under this project, construction of 45 bridges, 8 road safety measures, 10 disaster shelters, construction/strengthening of 19 fire stations, construction of training centres for State Disaster Response Force along with works related to forest fire control under the Forest Department will be done.
Early warning system will be strengthened
Apart from improving the infrastructure access, the fund will be also used to further improve the early warning system by updating the software of the disaster management. The state government may install sensors at different locations, besides near the rivers. Sirens will also be installed at different locations in the hills to send out warnings to people about disasters.
Construction of disaster shelter homes
There is also a plan to construct disaster shelter homes to shift the people of disaster-hit areas to a safe place. The Public Works Department (PWD) will be in position to focus on the construction of bridges, which are weak or not up to the mark.
Command and control system in Dehradun
Another important part of this project is the Command and Control system which will be based in Dehradun. All districts will be linked to it. Disaster management control rooms, which are functional at the district-level, will be further strengthened. Selected under this project, 19 fire stations will have modern equipment. The training centre of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) will be constructed on the SERF’s premises in Jolly Grant.
CM expressed gratitude to Centre and PM Modi
Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed his gratitude to the Central Government as well as Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for approving an amount of Rs 1480 crore for disaster management in Uttarakhand. CM Dhami said the amount sanctioned by the central government will be of great help in disaster relief and rescue operations during disasters in the state as well as in reducing the impact of disasters.
