Even as the country battles drought in 11 States, the Government is gearing up to tackle the fury of the South-west monsoon (June to September) which is likely to bring heavy rain and floods in several areas.
To review the status of preparedness for South-west monsoon and discuss other disaster management related issues across the States, the Government will hold a meeting of Relief Commissioners and Secretaries of State Governments on May 18
in Delhi.
Sources said the meeting, to be inaugurated by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, will be attended by representatives of Central Ministries concerned and organisations rendering emergency support functions, scientific organisations associated with forecasting officers of the armed forces and Central Armed Police Forces.
Space Research Organisation, Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), Central Water Commission, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, Geological Survey of India, Ministry of Defence and National Disaster Response Force will make presentations sharing their efforts towards preparedness in dealing with disaster situations.
As a preventive measure, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has already asked the Water and Sanitation Ministry to be ready with mitigation measures and quick and efficient response to the impending South -West monsoon.
“With the onset of monsoon in the last week of May or first week of June, Southwest monsoon season prevails in the country from June to September. Cyclones may occur in May-June and October-December, with their primary peak in November and secondary peak in May,” said the NDMA in a letter to the Ministry.
The NDMA has identified almost all the States - 29 in total as flood prone regions and at least 14 States to witness cyclone like situation.
Consequently, the Water and Sanitation Ministry has asked the States to prepare their own contingency plans for mitigation of such situations.
So far, 266 districts in 11 States have been declared drought-hit with a total of 330 million people in 10 States being affected.