NEW DELHI: Amid prediction of hotter than normal summer and more heatwaves during the upcoming season, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reviewed the preparedness for hot weather and instructed India Meteorological Department (IMD) to prepare daily weather forecasts in a manner which is easy to interpret and disseminate.
The PM during the review meeting also stressed on the need for detailed “fire audits” of all hospitals and asked for preparation of separate awareness material for different stakeholders including citizens, medical professionals, municipal and panchayat authorities, disaster response teams like firefighters etc. On the food security front, he asked the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to prepare to ensure optimal storage of grains in extreme weather conditions.
During the meeting, the PM was briefed about the impact of weather on Rabi crops and expected yield of major crops, and was updated on various ongoing efforts across the country to prepare for disasters related to heat and mitigation measures.
“The PM said that protocols and dos and dont’s for hot weather should be prepared in accessible formats, and various other modes of publicity like jingles, films, pamphlets etc. should also be prepared and issued… It was also discussed that TV news channels, FM radio etc. could spend a few minutes daily to explain the daily weather forecast in a manner which would allow citizens to take necessary precautions,” said a statement from the PMO.
It said, “The need for a coordinated effort to deal with forest fires was also pointed out. It was discussed that systemic changes should be made to support efforts to prevent and tackle forest fires. The prime minister instructed that availability of fodder and of water in reservoirs should be tracked.”
The PM during the review meeting also stressed on the need for detailed “fire audits” of all hospitals and asked for preparation of separate awareness material for different stakeholders including citizens, medical professionals, municipal and panchayat authorities, disaster response teams like firefighters etc. On the food security front, he asked the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to prepare to ensure optimal storage of grains in extreme weather conditions.
During the meeting, the PM was briefed about the impact of weather on Rabi crops and expected yield of major crops, and was updated on various ongoing efforts across the country to prepare for disasters related to heat and mitigation measures.
“The PM said that protocols and dos and dont’s for hot weather should be prepared in accessible formats, and various other modes of publicity like jingles, films, pamphlets etc. should also be prepared and issued… It was also discussed that TV news channels, FM radio etc. could spend a few minutes daily to explain the daily weather forecast in a manner which would allow citizens to take necessary precautions,” said a statement from the PMO.
It said, “The need for a coordinated effort to deal with forest fires was also pointed out. It was discussed that systemic changes should be made to support efforts to prevent and tackle forest fires. The prime minister instructed that availability of fodder and of water in reservoirs should be tracked.”
