In order to tackle any possible disaster in the state, the state government has taken different measures to protect lives and properties of the state’s people. As Tripura falls under the seismic zone -5 and very prone for major earthquake like disaster, the state government often organizing review meetings for preparedness over any possible disaster due to flood, drought and other calamities, said Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha during his address to the meeting of ministers of Disaster Management of states and UTs at New Delhi on Tuesday, which was chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Highlighting the views and disaster preparedness of the state, the Chief Minister urged for a permanent battalion of NDRF in the state.

Addressing the meeting at ‘Bigyan Bhavan’ in New Delhi, Dr Saha said that over 12 crores of common protocol warning messages were sent to the state’s people to alert them over any possible disaster in the end along with alert messages through social media. He said that the proper and fast uses of State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) and also urged the union government to take steps to train the officials of the state government.

He also said that altogether 4 companies of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been formed with manpower of 552 people and till date, altogether 404 personnel were given necessary training and initiatives have also been taken to give training to remaining members of SDRF.

The trained SDRF jawans of the state need more advanced training and the immediate assistance of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) of the Union government.

While, in order to strengthen the state’s disaster management, the state government has decided to create 20 permanent posts and implement a standard framework for disaster risk reduction.

Dr Saha also said that as per the Model Fire Bill of the Union Home Minister, the state government has already implemented the Tripura Fire and Emergency Services Act-2022 and has also hiked budget provisions.

All the schemes and projects of the union government for disaster management are being properly implemented in the state and the portal of National Disaster Management Information System is also being updated regularly.

At present, the state has 1000 trained Aapda Mitra and measures have also been taken to make one Aapda Mitra for every 50 citizens of the state.

He also highlighted the state government’s initiatives for training of students over disaster risk management and expansion of the services of Civil Defense Volunteers has spread across all districts by giving them training on mission mode. During the last two years, altogether 3000 civil defense volunteers were trained, said Dr Saha and urged the union government to launch a special project with one time financial support to the state governments for disaster management and to procure modern machinery.