New Delhi, Sep 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan on Thursday reviewed the preparedness of Himalayan States/UTs against the risks posed by glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and snow avalanches, similar to those that recently ravaged Nepal.
Chairing a meeting in New Delhi with officials from hill states, Mohan emphasised the need for continuous and proactive monitoring of vulnerable glacial lakes and avalanche-prone areas, particularly during periods of heightened risk, said a statement.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretaries and State Disaster Management Authorities of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, along with senior officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Central Water Commission (CWC), India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE).
The meeting reviewed the evolving risk of GLOFs in the Himalayan region, with particular emphasis on early warning, monitoring of vulnerable glacial lakes and snow-covered areas, identification of high-risk locations, flow paths, timely dissemination of alerts, evacuation preparedness and strengthening of response mechanisms, said the statement.
The States/UTs presented their respective preparedness and mitigation strategies, including measures being undertaken for monitoring vulnerable glacial lakes, strengthening early warning systems, improving last-mile dissemination of alerts, flow path planning, community preparedness and deployment of response resources in vulnerable areas, it said.
The State/UT-specific vulnerabilities and preparedness measures were discussed in detail, with emphasis on ensuring that mitigation measures are translated into concrete actions at the district and local levels.
The Union Home Secretary advised the states to maintain close coordination among State agencies, district administrations and scientific and technical institutions so that warnings are acted upon promptly and effectively.
The Union Home Secretary stressed that preparedness for GLOFs and snow avalanches must move beyond response-oriented measures towards risk-informed planning, preventive mitigation and community-level preparedness.
He also highlighted that states need to expedite the progress of GLOF mitigation projects sanctioned for them by the Central Government in 2024.
Source: IANS
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