Shah calls for zero-casualty approach, tackling root causes of disasters

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday emphasised the need to adopt a zero-casualty approach in the face of disasters, asserting that while the country is well-prepared to handle such situations, it must also address their root causes.

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Addressing the annual conference of relief commissioners and disaster response forces of states and Union Territories, Shah identified climate change and global warming as the primary drivers of natural disasters, calling for environmental conservation to be made an integral part of disaster mitigation strategies, a Home Ministry statement said.

"Climate change and global warming are the primary causes of disasters, and therefore, we must move forward with environmental conservation as a core component," Shah said.

He highlighted the significant efforts made over the past 11 years, including the launch of Mission LIFE (Lifestyle for Environment), the proposal for the creation of "Pro-Planet People," and India's key role in establishing the International Solar Alliance and the Global Biofuel Alliance.

Shah also underlined India's contributions to global disaster risk reduction, citing Prime Minister Modi's 10-point agenda, the formation of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and the establishment of a G-20 task force on disaster risk reduction.

"Without environmental conservation, it is impossible to completely prevent disasters," Shah said, adding that protecting the environment is essential to safeguarding the future.

During the conference, Shah asked every relief commissioner to prepare a district disaster management plan for their districts in their state within 90 days, stating that "until a district has its disaster management plan in place, we cannot respond swiftly in the face of a disaster".

He further emphasised that a lightning action plan also needs to be formulated soon.