Inaugurating the annual conference of Relief Commissioners and Secretaries of the Department of Disaster Management of States and Union Territories here, Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi said the disasters or adversities are increasing in number and intensity in the country, ranging from earthquakes, droughts, floods, forest fires among others.
There is a need for better preparedness and putting comprehensive, improved risk reduction and mitigation measures in place, he said.The Home Secretary took stock of the status of preparedness for southwest monsoon with the participating central agencies and states and UTs.
Mehrishi informed the participants that in the last financial year (2015-16), 21 states and one Union Territory reported damage caused by floods, landslides, cloudbursts and other disasters.In these disasters, 1543 human lives were lost, about 16.54 lakh houses and huts damaged and crops over an area of 33.57 lakh hectares affected.
Mehrishi said the Ministry of Home Affairs and agencies such as National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) are sharing long-term measures and training with the states for necessary preparedness.