Panaji: State government has activate its disaster management mechanism considering the upcoming monsoon season. Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte held a meeting today to take a stock of the preparedness.
RFP has been floated to collect real data for the disaster and also integrate all the helpline numbers under central government’s disaster management scheme. The agency would be selected under disaster management by the month of June.
Khaunte told reporters that “last one year we have taken several initiatives to ensure that disaster management is in right place.”
“There are district level meetings which are c haired by district collectors and state executive meeting on disaster which is chaired by the chief secretary.”
“Today was the meeting of state disaster management authority. We have decided to set up control room at collectorate, mamlatdar offices and secretariat wherever the short falls are there, these control rooms will be in place. We will integrate all the control rooms,” he said.
Khaunte said that the government has ensured that all the departments are activated. “National highway has been told to look at the area which are prone to floodings. The hot spots and vulnerable areas would be given special attention,” he said.
“Desilting of the drains will begin. Pruning of trees near highway and others will be taken up. The reports would be taken from panchayat on these issues,” he said.
“Evacuation plans from flood prone areas would be implemented. Fro m may 15 onwards, the road digging work will be stopped except in exceptional cases. Precautionary measures will be taken up by health department for vector borne diseases,” he said.
“We will be activating the helplines. Through social media and local channels, the helpline numbers would be publicized. The citizens would be given first point of contact during disaster management,” he said.
“We will also raise state disaster response scheme. Police department is already working on designing organizational structure for the force. Fire service has also drawn the plan,” Khaunte added.
During April-May gramsabha meetings, panchayats should take up disaster management as one of their agenda to create awareness amongst the people.
