Dehradun: Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan has directed officials to expand Civil Defence operations beyond Dehradun to other districts of Uttarakhand, highlighting the state’s strategic importance due to its borders with China and Nepal.
Chairing a high-level meeting at the State Emergency Operations Center of the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority on Monday, Bardhan reviewed disaster preparedness and response mechanisms. Senior government officials and representatives from the Army and paramilitary forces attended the meeting.
He emphasized the urgent need for strengthening disaster response plans and ensuring swift, coordinated action in emergency situations. Bardhan noted that currently, only Dehradun is designated as a Civil Defence district and instructed the Home Secretary to identify additional districts that could be notified under Civil Defence provisions. A formal proposal on this is to be submitted soon.
“Given Uttarakhand’s strategic location and vulnerability to disasters, preparations must be robust at every level. Coordination between civil administration and defence forces is crucial,” said Bardhan. He called for the creation of a WhatsApp group comprising senior officers from various departments, the Army, Air Force, and paramilitary units to facilitate better communication and coordination. Additionally, he directed departments to appoint single-point contacts for improved efficiency.
He also recommended that inter-departmental coordination meetings be held at least three times a year to ensure continuous improvement in preparedness and information sharing.
Prominent attendees at the meeting included Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu, DGP Deepam Seth, Deputy GOC Sub Area R.S. Thapa, Principal Secretary R. Meenakshi Sundaram, Home Secretary Shailesh Bagauli, and other senior officers from civil, police, and disaster response agencies.
