Even as Gujarat is ready with the State Disaster Response Network comprising trained men and adequate machinery down to the districts, municipal corporations and municipality levels, a high-level meeting here took stock of the preparedness to meet eventual natural calamities.

The meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Shri A.K. Joti directed that similar meetings be held by the respective departments concerned jointly with related agencies in time to keep ready disaster management plans for heavy rains or cyclone or floods. The state water resources and health departments will open their control rooms on June 1, 2010.

It was decided that Roads & Buildings and Water Resources Department depute officer-level men at major dams and reservoirs, Food & Civil Supplies Department keep adequate stocks of essential commodities, Agriculture Department keep stocks of seeds in just in case fresh demand arises, Health Department keep ready mobile vans and medicines, and Police, BSF, Army and Air Force keep reserves for rescue and relief operation.

Others who attended the meeting included Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Shri Balwant Singh, Shri B.K. Sinha, Principal Secretary Shri R.M. Patel, Dr S.K. Nanda, Relief Commissioner Shri P. Paneervel, Smt Gauri Kumar, D.J. Pandian, Shri C.L. Meena, Secretary Shri Raj Kumar, Shri R.P. Gupta, Shri A.S. Bharti, besides senior officers of Armed Forces, Police, Home Guards and Revenue Department’s Emergency Cell.

Indian Meteorological Department (IIMD) head here Smt Manorama Mohanty made a presentation on how to forecast monsoon and warn early heavy rains or cyclones.