New Delhi, June 16 (IANS): Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti Monday announced important measures, including repair of river embankments, to prevent disasters like one that hit Kedarnath in 2013, the ministry said.
"Uma Bharti said her ministry will take up repair of embankments of rivers which were damaged during the tragedy under flood management plan with the cooperation of the ministries of environment and tourism," said a ministry statement.
Bharti said the Central Water Commission, which gives advance warning of floods in rivers, has been instructed to give warnings about any increase in the water level of lakes of more than 50 hectares size and located in high altitude.
A nationwide tree plantation drive and public awareness programme will be held Tuesday on the first anniversary of the Kedarnath tragedy, the statement added.
The tree plantation drive will be held in Gangotri, Haridwar, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna, Nabadwip and Ganga Sagar.