The Bombay High Court directed the Maharashtra government on Tuesday to file a reply stating why civil defence centres were not yet set up in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts that are vulnerable to natural calamities.

The court noted that Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg witnessed several natural calamities in the recent past and had such centre's been already set up and functional there, better and more timely rescue services could have been provided to citizens.