Under the aegis of the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG), a delegation comprising 40 civil service officers from Sri Lanka visited the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) on Monday. During the visit, the foreign officials gained insights into the state’s disaster management model, technological innovations, and early warning systems.
Key Highlights:
• Robust Institutional Mechanism: Shri Rajkumar Negi, Additional Chief Executive Officer (DIG) of the USDMA, highlighted the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), district-level centers, disaster alert systems, and the utilization of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). He explained that a multi-tiered communication network and the active participation of local communities are ensured to disseminate information to the last mile.
• Weather and Landslide Management: Real-time data is collected by the IMD (India Meteorological Department) through radar and satellite systems. Meanwhile, Dr. Shantanu Sarkar, Director of the Uttarakhand Landslide Mitigation and Management Centre (ULMMC), shared details regarding scientific initiatives aimed at landslide prevention. Given that Sri Lanka also faces challenges related to heavy rainfall and landslides, the delegation evinced particular interest in this area.
• International Cooperation: Shri Vinod Kumar Suman, Secretary of Disaster Management, stated that the exchange of experiences helps in mitigating disaster risks at a global level. Dr. A.P. Singh, Associate Professor at the NCGG, noted that the institute has, to date, provided training to civil servants from 52 countries
