‘Relief materials, water & housing should be provided immediately in case of any eventuality’
Shillong, May 2: Chief minister Conrad K Sangma has asked the various departments to strengthen their coordination mechanism to ensure prompt and effective relief-rescue operations during the monsoon season.
The chief minister issued the directive in a meeting with State Disaster Management Authority and other line departments to review the state’s monsoon preparedness, along with deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong, health minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, chief secretary DP Wahlang and senior officials from IMD, PHE, Health, PWD, Power, etc., departments.
Deputy Commissioners and district officers from all the districts also attended the meeting via video conferencing.
Taking stock of the monsoon preparedness, Sangma said effective coordination between different departments and organisations is crucial not only to reduce and mitigate the effects, but also to ensure effective and efficient response in minimising loss and sufferings, and to restore normalcy.
Underscoring the need for prompt relief operations, he said relief materials, water and housing should be provided immediately in case of any eventuality.
Emphasising the role of Block Disaster Management Committees, Village Disaster Managements Committees and Village Executive Committees, the chief minister directed the deputy commissioners to convene regular meetings with the committees and issue specific directions and guidelines.
He also underscored the need for dissemination of information to people at the grassroots in a systematic manner through various media and in local languages.
Informing about the measures taken by the government to improve early warning systems, he said, “Every region has distinct vulnerabilities and the government is taking steps to map the vulnerabilities like floods in Garo Hills and landslides in Jaintia Hills and to develop a mechanism for early prediction and forecast.”
He also reviewed availability of manpower, inventory/equipment such as earth movers, boats, etc.
Stating that road, water and power are critical sectors that are significantly affected, he instructed heightened preparedness in these sectors.
He further said preparedness and mock drills are to be conducted more frequently as regular mock drills promote a sense of preparedness.
