Hyderabad: Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy has announced plans to strengthen the state's disaster management system to better respond to sudden disasters and mitigate the loss of life and property.
During a review meeting on the flood action plan in the Secretariat on Thursday, which was attended by the HYDRAA commissioner A.V. Ranganath and other senior officials, Srinivas Reddy said that it was the first time in the last 10 years that a comprehensive action plan on floods was being developed.
He directed all departments to formulate both state-level and district-level plans to address the challenges posed by floods, particularly in the Godavari and Krishna river basins. Additionally, he suggested the establishment of a state-level toll-free number dedicated to disaster management.
The minister also stressed the need for modern equipment and resources to handle diverse situations, from floods and canal management to high-rise building emergencies. He revealed that a follow-up meeting would be held soon to finalise these plans.
HYDRAA commissioner Ranganath provided an update on the efforts to bolster disaster management under the authority, noting the expansion of teams from 30 to 70 and an increase in personnel from 1,800 to 3,500.
In his response, Srinivas Reddy assured full support to HYDRAA, pledging to provide the advanced equipment necessary for effective disaster response and urged the HYDRAA commissioner to submit the required proposals.
