Lucknow: To ensure quick response in case of disaster or emergency, the government has decided to set up regional disaster response centres in east, west, Vindhya and Bundelkhand regions of the state.A government spokesperson said that besides carrying out relief and rescue operations, these regional centres would also hold training camps. These centres will be set up in Gautam Budh Nagar, Varanasi, Jhansi and Gorakhpur.Land for two centres has been identified while work is on for the remaining two.PWD has given an estimate of Rs 11 crore for the project and construction will begin as soon as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath gives his nod to the project. UP will be the first state to have four regional disaster response centres, the spokesperson said.Additional chief secretary, revenue, Sudhir Garg said that the decision to set up four regional disaster centres was taken so that swift action could be ensured in the golden hour.Western parts of the state will be covered by the centre in Gautam Budh Nagar while eastern parts will be taken care of from Gorakhpur. Varanasi and Jhansi centres will look after Vindhya and Bundelkhand regions. Land has been identified for Jhansi and Varanasi centres, said Garg.PWD officials have been directed to submit the design for the centres and the estimate for construction. The centres will work on real time exchange of information, and coordinate with other centres and agencies for which a communication centre will also be constructed. A resource centre will also be set up for storage of relief and rescue operation equipment. All centres will have a separate section for training, emergency operation and community participation, he said.With reduction in response time, there will be better coordination between agencies and those involved with rescue work. Local experts can be roped in for better management, the official said.We also published the following articles recentlySubmit rescue op plan in 48 hrs: HC to Centre, state govtThe Uttarakhand High Court has ordered the Centre and state government to respond within 48 hours to the measures taken to rescue the 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi. A PIL filed by NGO Samadhan called for an FIR against officials responsible for endangering the workers lives. The court also issued notices to the Union disaster management ministry, PWD secretary, and NHAI. The workers have been trapped since a tunnel collapse on November 12. The PIL also emphasized the need for safety measures, including generators and a geological survey.Be sensitive in reportage, avoid sensationalising tunnel rescue operations: Centre to TV channelsThe ministry of information and broadcasting issued an advisory to private television channels regarding their coverage of the ongoing rescue operations at Silkyara in Uttarakhand. The advisory emphasized responsible reporting, urging channels to avoid sensationalizing the situation and not disrupt life-saving activities. It cautioned against the telecast of video footage and images related to the rescue operations, especially when placing cameras and equipment in close proximity to the site. The advisory stressed the importance of considering the psychological well-being of the family members of the trapped workers and the general viewership, aiming for respectful and sensitive media coverage.Centre plans agency to drive overall transportation strategyThe government plans to establish an Integrated Transport Planning Agency (ITPA) to drive transportation strategy across all modes of surface transport, railways, shipping, and civil aviation. The ITPA will be similar to the transportation departments of the United States and Australia. India currently lacks integrated transport planning, resulting in competition rather than complementarity between different modes of transport. The ITPA will have a long-term planning period, be accountable for meeting national goals, establish liaison with relevant ministries, and improve coordination on infrastructure projects. This integrated planning will help channelize government investment.

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