CM Dr. Sarma holds VC and reviews flood preparedness

Asks DCs to ramp up flood preparedness and response system

All holes dug up on roads for construction purposes to be closed or barricaded: CM

Dedicated phone numbers in each district for residents to inform administration about presence of any hole on road

In view of the onset of Monsoon and the possibility of rain induced flood across the state, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma today held a video conference with the DCs and other senior officers of the state administration to put in place all necessary steps and ramp up flood preparedness and response system.

In a video conference from his office chamber in Janata Bhawan here today, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said that with the monsoon set in resulting in rain in the state, all the government departments including NHAI, NHIDC, NDRF and SDRF should become alert to negotiate with the flood and reach out to the affected people.

Chief Minister Dr. Sarma asked the Principal Secretary Revenue and Disaster Management Gyanendra Dev Tripathi to take steps for prepositioning of NDRF and SDRF personnel in vulnerable districts especially in Dima Hasao. He also asked ASDMA to activate risk communication and early warning system to warm the people against the potential threats of flood.

In the event of flood water submerged the low lying habitable areas, the Chief Minister asked the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to set up relief camps and streamline relief distribution in even the relief distribution centres. He asked the DC to take all necessary steps to visit the embankment breach areas of the last year to do the vulnerability mapping and take precautionary measures accordingly. He also asked the DCs to make the geo bags available in adequate numbers  in the vulnerable areas. He also asked the DCs to assess available stock of food materials and the  availability of buffer stock and fodder stock in their respective districts. Moreover, referring to the damage caused to embankment in Cachar district last year which caused catastrophic flood in the r district with very widespread impact in Silchar town and its adjoining areas, the Chief Minister asked the DCs to have vigil and if required area domination to avert any unscrupulous elements causing harms to embankments which might lead to large scale flood.

While taking stock of the availability of doctors and medicines to address any medical issues in flood affected areas, the Chief Minister asked the DCs to hold meeting and prepare a contingency plan for their respective districts. Moreover, he also asked the DCs to keep doctors and nurses in the relief camps to attend to any medical emergency of the camp inmates.

Chief Minister Dr. Sarma also asked DC Kamrup (Metro) to have constant surveillance on 382 landslide prone areas of the district and take remedial steps if required in case of heavy and incessant rain. He also asked GMC Commissioner Megha Nidhi Dahal to clean drains across the city on a regular basis to avert siltation or garbage causing any blockage on the movement of water. The Chief Minister also took stock of the working condition of the water suction pumps deployed in several areas of the city.

The Chief Minister during the conference asked all the DCs to fill up the holes which are dug up for construction purposes on priority basis. Moreover, if any hole cannot be filled up because of the nature of construction purpose, the holes should be bamboo barricaded with red ribbon clung around barricades to avert any accidents. Taking a serious look at the latest road accidents took place due dug up holes on the roads, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma asked the DCs to allot phone numbers with a request to the residents of the district to the inform the  administration about the existence of any uncovered holes on the road.

Dr. Sarma also asked PWD, NHAI, NHIDCL to see the road conditions in flood prone and landslide prone areas especially along the stretch of the roads which lead to Hill districts and Barak Valley districts and take the contingency measures. He said that State government is available on 24X7 basis to address the issues and concerns of the citizens.

Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika was also present during the VC along with other senior officers of the Government including Army and Air Force. Revenue Minister Jogen Mohan was also present in the VC virtually.