Karwar: With the monsoon season approaching, Uttara Kannada Deputy Commissioner (DC) K. Lakshmi Priya has directed all district officials and staff to remain on high alert and ensure comprehensive preparedness across all departments. Chairing a meeting of the District Disaster Management Authority on Friday, she emphasized the need for 24/7 vigilance and a coordinated response to minimize potential risks during the rainy season.
The DC ordered the immediate establishment of round-the-clock control rooms in all taluk-level Tahsildar offices and urban local bodies. She also mandated the deployment of key personnel from the police, fire services, forest department, HESCOM, and BSNL at the District Emergency Operation Centre to enable swift, integrated disaster response operations.
Taking note of the district’s flood-prone areas—including Araga, Chendia, Thoduru, Mudaga, and Binaga—the DC instructed that all mitigation works in these vulnerable zones be completed on a priority basis. Officials from the Minor Irrigation and Zilla Panchayat departments have been asked to submit status reports upon completion of these tasks.
In addition, the National Highways Authority has been directed to expedite and complete all ongoing road construction work, particularly the Sirsi–Kumta stretch, by the end of May. Proper maintenance of side drains along national highways has also been stressed to prevent waterlogging and ensure road safety during heavy rains. The district administration will deploy spotters in landslide-prone areas, install cautionary signage, and place barricades at vulnerable points along highways to avert potential hazards.
Representatives from Project Seabird confirmed that supporting infrastructure in nearby villages has been upgraded to facilitate efficient water drainage and prevent monsoon-related disruptions for local communities.
To mitigate safety risks near educational institutions, DC Lakshmi Priya directed that all dangerous trees and overhead electrical wires in the vicinity of schools, anganwadis, and colleges be removed. Dilapidated buildings are to be identified immediately and subjected to structural audits. Preemptive action must be taken to avoid accidents, and departmental heads will be held accountable for any negligence or mishaps occurring under their jurisdiction.
The DC also called for awareness campaigns targeting students who commute through hazardous routes such as riverbanks and narrow footpaths. She instructed officials to identify mud houses at risk of collapse and prepare comprehensive evacuation plans for households in such areas. The Revenue Department and urban local bodies have been asked to maintain updated databases of vulnerable homes and issue timely relocation notices during heavy rainfall alerts. Additionally, all unstable or illegal advertisement hoardings must be promptly dismantled to prevent public safety incidents.
To ensure uninterrupted power supply during the monsoon, HESCOM has been instructed to maintain emergency vehicles, spare parts, and technical teams on standby. Departments engaged in civil works have been directed to prepare detailed inventories of machinery and manpower, with contact information submitted to the District Control Room for emergency deployment.
In anticipation of increased health risks, the Health Department has been tasked with ensuring the availability of essential medicines, operational medical equipment, ambulance services, and sufficient staff across all healthcare facilities in the district.
DC Lakshmi Priya further instructed that all officials remain present at their respective headquarters throughout the monsoon season, barring exceptional circumstances. Leave will not be granted unless absolutely necessary, and any emergency absence must be reported in advance with a competent replacement assigned to the role.
Concluding the meeting, the DC emphasized the critical importance of interdepartmental coordination and rapid grievance redressal to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of residents. She urged all departments to work in close coordination and respond swiftly to any developing situation to ensure a safe and well-managed monsoon season.
Present at the meeting were Additional DC Sajid Mulla, Sub-Divisional Officer Kanishka, Deputy Conservator of Forests Ravishankar, Additional Superintendent of Police Krishnamurthy, ZP Deputy Secretary Nagesh Raikar, and other district-level officers, Tahsildars, and Taluk Panchayat officials.