For quick disaster response, SDRF to be strengthened: Himachal CM
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today said that the state government was taking steps to ensure a rapid and resilient response to future challenges, especially natural disasters. “To enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the emergency response system, the government is diligently working to strengthen the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF),” he added.
He said that the entire response framework would be unified under the charge of the Additional Director General of Home Guards and Civil Defence, thus ensuring a coordinated approach to any emergency or disaster management. The Home Guards would be assigned to the SDRF for two years, reinforcing the system’s capacity and resilience.
Sukhu said, “The state government has prioritised to strengthen the SDRF in the wake of frequent cloudbursts and other natural disasters. We intend to make the system more organised and effective to safeguard lives and reduce losses. Himachal Pradesh is vulnerable to landslides, avalanches, earthquakes and other natural disasters and the government is taking these risks with utmost seriousness.”
The Chief Minister, at a meeting on August 1 following cloudbursts in Mandi, Kullu and Shimla districts, had directed senior government officers to enhance the effectiveness of the emergency response system. He had emphasised the need for unified action from all response agencies to minimise losses and save lives.
Sukhu said that natural disasters had an immediate and lasting impact on people’s livelihoods. “The economy of Himachal Pradesh relies heavily on tourism and natural disasters deter tourists, adversely affecting local businesses and livelihoods. Vital infrastructure is damaged in disasters and it can take a long time to be rebuilt them, thus hindering the economic pace of the state,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that the loss of agricultural land due to floods and landslides also impacted the income of the farmers. “The state government is taking necessary steps to mitigate these challenges. It is also focusing on strengthening the early warning system, improving infrastructure resilience and raising community awareness,” he added.
Sukhu said that every disaster brought new challenges that strained the state’s infrastructure, disrupted local communities and also impacted the environment. Therefore, it was important to ensure a better emergency response system and the government would make all efforts to minimise losses and protect the people of the state, he added.
