Karwar: With the southwest monsoon approaching, Uttara Kannada district administration has directed all departments to remain on high alert and ensure comprehensive preparedness to prevent landslides, flooding and other rain-related disasters across the district.
Chairing a meeting of the District Disaster Management Authority at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Karwar, Lakshmi Priya reviewed the monsoon preparedness measures being undertaken by various departments and stressed the need for coordinated action to avoid any untoward incidents during the rainy season.
Emphasising coordinated action among departments, the Deputy Commissioner directed all Tahsildar offices and urban local bodies to establish 24x7 control rooms to address public grievances and emergency situations during heavy rainfall. She also instructed the District Emergency Operation Centre at the Deputy Commissioner’s office to deploy personnel from the police, fire and emergency services, forest department, HESCOM and BSNL for round-the-clock coordination.
Officials of the Panchayat Raj and Public Works departments were asked to immediately issue work orders and expedite projects being undertaken under the State Disaster Response Fund. Stressing the importance of highway safety during the rains, Lakshmi Priya directed National Highways Authority officials to complete all ongoing road works within this month and ensure proper drainage maintenance along highways to prevent waterlogging.
She also instructed authorities to install warning signboards, barricades and other safety measures at vulnerable and accident-prone locations on national highways.
Officials of the National Highways Authority informed the meeting that the ongoing works at Shirur are expected to be completed by the end of the month. They also stated that dredging works would be undertaken to ensure smooth flow of rainwater and prevent water stagnation along highway stretches. “No Parking Zones” would also be created at identified hazardous locations, officials said.
The Deputy Commissioner further directed officials to complete drainage and water-flow management works in villages located within the naval base jurisdiction to prevent flooding and inconvenience to residents during the monsoon.
Raising concerns over public safety near educational institutions, Lakshmi Priya instructed departments concerned to identify and remove dangerous trees and overhead power lines located near schools, anganwadis and colleges. She also ordered precautionary action in areas with dilapidated buildings and warned that officials concerned would be held accountable in the event of any mishap caused by negligence.
Authorities were additionally instructed to inspect the structural condition of bridges and footbridges across the district and submit detailed safety reports.
Directing HESCOM officials to remain fully prepared for emergency situations, the Deputy Commissioner said all necessary equipment, vehicles and manpower should be kept ready for immediate restoration of electricity in case of power disruptions during heavy rains. Departments were also asked to ensure that rescue equipment and emergency resources remain readily available throughout the monsoon season.
The Fire and Emergency Services Department was instructed to ensure availability of all required rescue and safety equipment and conduct preparedness meetings across taluks and urban local bodies.
Officials informed the meeting that 1,780 dangerous trees have already been identified in urban and rural areas of the district. The Deputy Commissioner directed the Forest Department to inspect the identified trees and take up removal or pruning work on priority.
Lakshmi Priya also stated that the process of repairing, replacing and relocating rain gauge stations in the district has already been tendered at the state level. She instructed all Tahsildars to coordinate with the agencies concerned to ensure all rain monitoring systems remain functional before the onset of heavy rains.
She further directed all government officials and staff to remain stationed at their headquarters during the monsoon period and emphasised the need for inter-departmental coordination to ensure quick response to public emergencies.
The Deputy Commissioner said members of the public can contact the District Emergency Operation Centre helpline at 94835 11015 круглосуточно for assistance during emergencies and disaster situations. She also instructed officials to publicise taluk-level helpline numbers for public convenience.
Sub-Divisional Officer Shravan Kumar, Zilla Panchayat Deputy Secretary Alla Bhaksh and other district-level officials attended the meeting. Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr. Dilish Shashi, Tahsildars, Taluk Panchayat Executive Officers and officials of urban local bodies participated virtually.