Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 31 May: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the “Monsoon 2025: Preparedness” workshop organised by the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority at a hotel here on Saturday.
At the meet, the Chief Minister announced the launch of “Aapda Sakhi Yojana“, a scheme modelled on the existing ‘Aapda Mitra Yojana’. He stated that this scheme would train women volunteers in pre-disaster warnings, first aid, relief and rescue operations, psychological support, and other critical areas. This initiative will not only contribute to women’s empowerment but also strengthen and enhance the active participation of society in disaster management.
Dhami reminded that this workshop would be a crucial step in disaster preparedness, helping in better management of upcoming challenges. He admitted that Uttarakhand is highly disaster-prone and laid emphasis on the need to learn from past calamities. He added that natural disasters cannot be entirely averted, but loss of life and property can be minimised through swift response, vigilance, and coordinated relief and rescue operations. He emphasised the importance of coordination, alertness, and sensitivity among all departments.
He reiterated that disaster management is a collective responsibility of all departments, requiring active participation from both government bodies as well as the general public. He emphasised on the need for public awareness and training, stating that unless society is well-informed and prepared, government efforts will not be fully effective. He added that the local citizens often act as first responders in disasters, making it essential to train village level disaster committees, women’s and youth groups, voluntary organisations, and institutions like the Red Cross.
Dhami stressed on the importance of both proactive and reactive strategies for effective disaster management. He cited the cloudburst in Gauri Kund last year, where a proactive approach saved thousands of lives. Similarly, over 200 lives were saved in a Tehri district landslide due to timely administrative action. He reiterated that standing with those affected during a disaster is the government’s top priority.
He further emphasised on the need for advanced forecasting to mitigate disaster impacts. He shared that the state government is adopting modern technologies such as drone surveillance, GIS mapping, and satellite monitoring to identify vulnerable areas. Rapid Response Teams are being formed to minimise disaster-related losses, ensuring better coordination among the State Disaster Management Department, NDRF, SDRF, and the local administration. He also recalled his interaction with trapped labourers during the Silkyara rescue operation, which boosted their morale, he reminded.
The Chief Minister directed the officials from SDRF, NDRF, and military forces to maintain continuous coordination for disaster management. He directed identification of sensitive areas prone to landslides and floods and ensured deployment of essential equipment like JCBs and cranes at those sites. He also stressed on technical inspection of old bridges and the storage of Bailey bridges for emergency use. To enhance preparedness, he instructed continuous monitoring of water levels in riverine areas and proper stockpiling of food grains, fuel, drinking water, and medicines.
Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan stated that the workshop will strengthen disaster preparedness before the monsoon. He noted that Uttarakhand faces multiple disaster threats and stressed the need for technological advancements to optimise disaster response.
Rajendra Singh, member of NDMA, mentioned that the Indian Meteorological Department has predicted above-normal rainfall, making the mid June to September period. critical. He lauded the state government for its efficient management of the Char Dham Yatra, stating that its disaster response is commendable. He informed that NDMA has approved Rs 140 crores for landslide mitigation and Rs 40 crores for monitoring 190 sensitive lakes in the state.
Vice-chairman of Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Advisory Committee, Vinay Rohilla, highlighted that disaster losses have reduced due to the proactive approach of the state government. He credited the success of the Silkyara rescue operation and also noted CM Dhami’s presence at Ground Zero during floods in Rudrapur and Ghansali, boosting the morale of affected people.
Secretary Disaster Management, Vinod Kumar Suman claimed that this workshop aims to further strengthen pre-monsoon preparedness. Discussions will cover weather forecasting, flood forecasting, early warning systems, landslide prevention, glacier monitoring, and monsoon-related disease prevention.
Also present on the occasion included Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu, Secretary Shailesh Bagoli, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Dhananjay Mohan, and heads of various departments and disaster management experts.
