Government Approves Major Disaster Mitigation Projects Across India

A high-level committee led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah has approved various disaster mitigation projects for multiple states, focusing on urban flooding and glacial lake outburst floods. The projects, costing thousands of crores, aim to enhance disaster management capabilities and community preparedness through initiatives like the Yuva Aapda Mitra Scheme.

A high-level committee led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah approved a series of disaster mitigation and capacity-building projects on Thursday. The initiatives, aimed at combating urban flooding and glacial lake outburst floods, will see substantial funding allocated to various states.

The committee sanctioned nine proposals drawing from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) and the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). The approved projects encompass six states, including Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, West Bengal, and Maharashtra, with a total expenditure of Rs 2514.36 crore focused on urban flood management. Cities such as Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Pune will benefit from these funds.

Additionally, the committee considered the Yuva Aapda Mitra Scheme's implementation across all 28 states. The scheme will train 1300 Master Trainers and 2.37 lakh volunteers for disaster preparedness and response. The government has also greenlit projects for Assam, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu to modernize fire services and initiatives aimed at mitigating glacial lake outburst flood risks in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.

(With inputs from agencies.)