Dehradun, April 22 -- Dinesh Kumar Aswal, member National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), on Tuesday said the objective of achieving "zero deaths" during disasters can only be realised if disaster risks and their impacts are minimised through effective preparedness and mitigation measures. Speaking during a review meeting at the Uttarakhand state disaster management authority, Aswal assessed the preparedness of the state disaster management department and all 13 districts of the state. While reviewing the capabilities of district administrations, he expressed satisfaction with the current preparedness levels but stressed that disaster risk reduction must remain at the core of all disaster management efforts. He emphasised the need to prioritise pre-disaster preparedness, risk identification and mitigation measures. He also appreciated the state disaster management plan (SDMP) and district disaster management plans (DDMPs), saying they would prove to be milestones in strengthening disaster risk reduction in the state. Aswal said the development of a landslide early warning system in Uttarakhand is the need of the hour and assured the state of technical and institutional support from NDMA for the initiative. He also directed authorities to identify "shadow areas" lacking mobile connectivity across districts and submit a list to NDMA so that necessary directions could be issued to telecom service providers. Vinod Kumar Suman, secretary disaster management and rehabilitation department, requested exemption from the state disaster response fund (SDRF) guidelines to allow dredging operations for river channelisation. Aswal advised the state government to submit a formal proposal, assuring that it would be reviewed on priority. While reviewing the "Yuva Aapda Mitra Yojana", Aswal said community empowerment is the strongest pillar of disaster management and stressed involving more people in training programmes. He also directed districts to undertake detailed GIS mapping of equipment, human resources, vuln- erable areas and villages and incorporate the data into district disaster management plans. He further stressed that disaster management plans must be mandatory for all government and private institutions including schools, colleges, hospitals, malls, apartment complexes and stadiums. Aswal said pine needles (pirul), a major cause of forest fires in Uttarakhand, could be turned into a valuable resource if utilised properly. He said "NDMA is ready to provide funding to promote the production of briquettes from pirul and directed districts to submit proposals for the initiative". He also suggested adopting modern technologies, including robotics, for efficient collection of pine needles. Aswal also suggested the phased relocation of residents from highly vulnerable villages in Uttarakhand and the development of new disaster-resilient villages and towns in safer locations. He recommended establishing at least one "model village" or "model town" in every district that is safe from all types of disasters. Highlighting the fragile geography of hill regions, he stressed the need for construction practices compatible with local ecological conditions. He also called for amendments in building bylaws to ensure disaster-resilient construction and directed authorities to strictly enforce these regulations. Aswal emphasised adopting advanced technologies to strengthen disaster preparedness and suggested the use of "Digital Twin" technology to assess potential disaster scenarios and improve response planning. He also encouraged providing opportunities to startups to develop innovative technological solutions for disaster management....