In a decisive call for scientific and community-driven approaches to climate resilience, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu emphasized that disasters are emerging as one of the greatest threats to humanity’s future, particularly in the context of escalating climate change. Chairing the 9th meeting of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) in Shimla, the Chief Minister expressed deep concern over the recent surge in cloudbursts and extreme weather events that have caused massive destruction across several districts of the hill state.
Over the last few weeks, Himachal Pradesh has been battered by excessive rainfall, with Mandi district witnessing 123 percent more rainfall than average and Shimla recording 105 percent excess precipitation. The impact has been devastating, with as many as 19 cloudburst incidents recently reported, resulting in significant loss of life and property. The Chief Minister informed the gathering that this worrying trend was also flagged before the Union Home Minister, underlining the gravity of the situation.
CM Sukhu pointed to unscientific muck dumping practices as a major contributor to the scale of the damage and called for urgent adoption of scientifically sound disposal mechanisms to minimize environmental risks. Stressing the importance of reliable communication during emergencies, he directed the SDMA to become the sole and authoritative voice for issuing weather alerts and updates, and urged citizens to disregard unverified information circulating on social media platforms. He reiterated that safety must be paramount in all construction activity and emphasized that no structure should be built within 100 meters of any river or rivulet.
In a major step toward enhancing disaster preparedness, the Chief Minister announced the strengthening of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and confirmed the establishment of a new SDRF campus in Palampur, Kangra. Additionally, a State Institute of Disaster Management will soon be set up at the Dr. Manmohan Singh Himachal Institute of Public Administration in Shimla. To bolster academic and research efforts, Himachal Pradesh University will be engaged in research and development focused on disaster mitigation and adaptation.
Recognizing the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters in the region, the Chief Minister recalled the extensive damage suffered during the monsoon season in 2023. He revealed that the government had disbursed ₹1,260 crore to district administrations and departments to support relief and rehabilitation efforts, with an additional ₹138 crore allocated under the mitigation fund. The magnitude of the challenge, he noted, demands a proactive and long-term approach.
To reduce the risk to public and private assets, the Chief Minister directed all government departments to ensure their infrastructure and projects maintain a minimum distance of 100 meters from water bodies. He also highlighted the ₹891 crore disaster risk reduction initiative underway in the state. The multi-pronged project includes capacity building of the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA) and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs), development of an early warning system, and implementation of risk mitigation strategies. Scheduled for completion by March 2030, the project is envisioned to lay the foundation for a disaster-resilient Himachal Pradesh.
The meeting was also attended by several senior officials including Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister (Media) Naresh Chauhan, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Additional Chief Secretary K.K. Pant, Secretaries M. Sudha Devi and Dr. Abhishek Jain, ADGPs Satwant Atwal and Abhishek Trivedi, Special Secretary D.C. Rana, and others who discussed implementation strategies and ground-level action plans to tackle these urgent challenges.
This is a web-generated news story.
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