Arunachal CM Pema Khandu Reviews Preparedness to Tackle Monsoon Disasters

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday convened a review meeting to take stock of the preparedness of the State to tackle inevitable monsoon disaster, as the northeastern State has already witnessed heavy rains triggering landslides and flash floods even before the arrival of South-West monsoon. Pema Khandu while taking the review meeting with the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) here, advised the department to extensively train more volunteers across the state up to the village level to help in tackling disaster.

Tackle landslides & flash floods Disaster

Expressing concern on habitats in and around the state capital vulnerable to landslides and floods, Khandu suggested the Disaster Management Director Komkar Dulom survey, map and notify all such vulnerable habitats and facilitate shifting of all such families to safer locations. The chief minister also stressed extensive IEC campaigns to create awareness amongst the people, official sources informed.

"Without thinking of any possible disaster, our people tend to build houses and reside in areas which are prone to landslides and floods during the monsoons. We need to aware of them even if it may take time," he said.

Khandu also expressed grave concern over rampant earth cutting in the state capital and called upon the department to coordinate with the district administration and put halt to such activities.

While accepting the suggestion put forth by the department to put in place a real-time monitoring system in the state for early warning signals of upcoming disasters to prevent loss of lives and other damages, Khandu asked the department to take help of reputed institutes for technologies that could detect soil movement and give out warning signals.

The chief minister also reviewed the status of preparedness in terms of medicines, essential commodities, manpower in the districts and fund position of the department, sources said.

It was also agreed that a certain per cent of the state disaster relief management fund would be used for mitigation purposes only.

Earlier in the meeting, Disaster management Secretary Dani Salu informed that personnel of the NDRF 12th Battalion have been positioned at Bomdila in West Kameng district for the west and at Tezu in Lohit district for the eastern parts of the state, while SDRF units have been positioned at the five Regional Response Centers at Dirang, Ziro, Pasighat, Tezu and Khonsa for quick response to any disaster situation.

"Our department is in constant touch with agencies like the CWC, IMD, hydropower, water resources, urban development, public health engineering and science & technology, for liaising, coordination and information sharing to put in place precautionary measures in advance," Salu said.

The secretary further revealed that an extensive IEC campaign has been launched to create awareness while the department is conducting mock exercises on earthquake and other disasters including flood and fire.

Toll-free numbers have also been installed and activated, which are 1070 for State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) and 1077 for District Emergency Operation Centres (DEOCs).

Salu added that the department had trained volunteers on disaster management across the state, whose assistance may be obtained by the respective deputy commissioners in case of emergency. The meeting was also attended by the advisor to disaster management department Tanphaw Wangnaw and Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar among others, the sources added.

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