Maharashtra to develop AI-based integrated disaster management system: CM Fadnavis

While reviewing the state's preparedness ahead of the monsoon season, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday directed officials to initiate work on an artificial intelligence (AI)-based integrated ''command and control system'' for disaster management.

Chairing a meeting on monsoon preparedness and disaster management at Sahyadri Guest House here, Fadnavis said all departments should focus on minimising the impact of disasters through effective coordination and implementation of standard operating procedures.

''Every monsoon brings new challenges. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare more effectively based on past experiences. Departments should not limit themselves to planning on paper, but ensure effective implementation of standard operating procedures,'' Fadnavis said.

He stressed the importance of quick response mechanisms, timely alerts and rapid assistance to citizens, and directed all departments to reassess their preparedness within the next 15 days and remove shortcomings.

The chief minister also expressed the need to integrate control rooms of the Mantralaya, police, municipal corporations and various agencies to build a unified emergency response system.

The meeting was attended by Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Makarand Patil, Chief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, Director General of Police Sadanand Date, Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, senior civic and administrative officials and representatives of various state and central agencies.

Officials from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), armed forces, Coast Guard, Indian Meteorological Department, railways and other agencies also participated in the meeting, while district collectors and local disaster management officials joined through video conferencing.

Mahajan said better coordination among departments was necessary, especially in situations where water released from dams during heavy rainfall causes flooding in riverside villages.

He also called for structural audits of weak bridges and closure of traffic on dangerous bridges to prevent accidents during the monsoon.

Patil said special relief packages had been approved for farmers affected by natural disasters. Assistance of Rs 10,000 per hectare for Kharif crops, Rs 47,000 compensation for washed-away land and subsidies of up to Rs 5,000 under the employment guarantee scheme had been provided, he said.

He said compensation of Rs 30,000 per well had been sanctioned for around 11,000 wells for the first time, while the aid eligibility limit had been increased from two hectares to three hectares.

According to the minister, Rs 16,224 crore had been transferred directly into the bank accounts of 1.06 lakh farmers through DBT.

Officials informed the meeting that disaster response systems had been strengthened ahead of the monsoon, with coordination enhanced among the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and NDRF.

The Western Naval Command has kept ships, helicopters and interceptor crafts ready, while the Air Force has prepared air ambulance and air cargo services for emergency situations, officials said.

The state currently has 10 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams operational, with approval granted for two additional teams.

Authorities also said 43 major pumping stations have been activated in Mumbai to deal with waterlogging, along with a smart pump monitoring system.

Around 3,000 hospital beds have been reserved for emergencies and disaster management centres will function round-the-clock during the monsoon season, officials added.

During the meeting, divisional commissioners from Konkan, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Amravati and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar reviewed district-level preparedness measures.

An official release issued after the meeting said said 939 villages in the Konkan region have been identified as landslide-prone and preventive measures are being implemented to avoid possible disasters.

Special precautions are also being taken on the Mumbai-Goa highway and other national highways to prevent accidents during the rainy season, while safety measures have been increased at monsoon tourist destinations, the release said.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)