Bandipora : The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora, Dr Owais Ahmad, who is also Chairperson, District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Monday chaired a meeting of District Officers, Engineers of Irrigation and Flood Control, R&B, PHE, Police, SDRF, Fire and Emergency Services and other departments to review flood preparedness and other mitigation efforts and COVID-19 situation.
The meeting took a detailed review of flood preparedness and mitigation efforts of various departments to ensure the relief and rescue in case of exigencies.
The DC directed the officers of I&FC, R&B and Municipal Corporations to ensure de-silting of khuls and drains in the next 15 days positively. He took stock of arrangements like employing dewatering pumps, sand bags, logistics, establishment of control rooms, medicines and ration besides identification of rescue holding places in case rescue operations are undertaken.
He asked the officers to communicate the requirements of logistics like Gensets, cutters etc. to the DDMA, so that the same are procured well in time and the same is given to Tehsildars, SDRF & other departments at an earliest.
The DC directed the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to identify the vulnerable spots along rivers and streams and ensure fixing of all breaches in the river embankments and streams. He also directed them to store adequate flood fighting materials like dewatering pumps and sandbags near weak and vulnerable points.
The DC pressed for making a list of vulnerable flood-prone areas, location of related infrastructure viz dozers, sandbags, boats, vehicles, dewatering pumps besides telephone numbers of control rooms of related departments and agencies. He also directed to review camping locations as already identified for evacuation for vulnerable populations in case of floods.
Dr Owais directed the SDRF and BDOs to make a list of volunteers for disaster managements and mitigation efforts so that they can be called immediately when needed.
He appreciated the efforts of Police and Civil authorities in tackling COVID 19 and impressed upon the officers to continue to work in a coordinated manner to meet any kind of exigencies in future and also impressed upon all field officers to play an active role in COVID 19 vaccination drive underway in the district.
The meeting was attended by Senior Superintendent of Police Rahul Malik, Joint Director Planning Imtiyaz Ahmad and other senior officers of the district.
