Amit Shah highlights disaster management milestones at NDRF ceremony
By Doruvu Paul Jagan Babu: Assistant Chief Editor
Vijayawada – Andhra Pradesh: Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the 20th Raising Day ceremony of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in Vijayawada on Sunday, Andhra Pradesh, as the Chief Guest. During the event, Shah inaugurated and laid foundation stones for several projects worth approximately Rs 220 crore, emphasizing the government’s commitment to disaster management and infrastructure development in Andhra Pradesh.
Key projects inaugurated and announced
Amit Shah inaugurated the National South Campus of the Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), the 10th Battalion of the NDRF, and the Regional Response Centre at Supaul Campus. He also laid the foundation stone for an Integrated Shooting Range at the National Police Academy in Hyderabad and inaugurated the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory building in Tirupati.
Dignitaries in attendance
The ceremony saw the participation of several prominent figures, including Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Union Minister of Civil Aviation K Rammohan Naidu, Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar, AP Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, Home Secretary Govind Mohan, and NDRF Director General Piyush Anand.
Support for Andhra Pradesh’s development
In his address, Amit Shah praised Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s administrative and developmental strategies, noting the partnership between the central and state governments in driving Andhra Pradesh’s growth. Shah highlighted the Union Cabinet’s recent approval of Rs 11,000 crore to secure the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and the allocation of Rs 27,000 crore for Amaravati’s development through HUDCO and the World Bank.
Shah emphasized investments aimed at Andhra Pradesh’s growth, including the AIIMS hospital project costing Rs 1,600 crore, Rs 2 lakh crore for making Visakhapatnam a green hydrogen hub, and infrastructure projects worth Rs 1.2 lakh crore. He affirmed the central government’s commitment to ensuring the state’s rapid progress.
Advancements in disaster management
Highlighting the evolution of disaster management since 2014, Amit Shah credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for shifting the focus from reactive to proactive strategies, with a target of zero casualties. Shah emphasized the role of the NDRF, NDMA, and NIDM in achieving this goal, citing successful operations during major storms in the past two years.
Shah also recognized the global credibility of the NDRF for its efforts in disaster-hit countries like Nepal, Indonesia, Turkey, and Vietnam, noting that India’s policies on disaster-resilient infrastructure have positioned it as a global leader.
Modernizing disaster response and infrastructure
Amit Shah mentioned the increase in disaster management funds from Rs 12,500 crore under the 12th Finance Commission to Rs 61,000 crore under the 14th Finance Commission. He praised Modi’s initiative to establish the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), now comprising 48 member countries.
Shah highlighted the role of technology in disaster management, citing apps, portals, and services like Dial 112 and the Common Alert Protocol that aid public safety. He also credited Chandrababu Naidu for providing land at no cost for establishing the 10th NDRF Battalion and the South India branch of the NIDM.
The event underscored India’s advancements in disaster management and infrastructure development, reiterating the government’s commitment to public safety and economic growth.
