Jharsuguda: June 1:A preparedness meeting of the District-Level Natural Disaster Management Committee was held at the auditorium hall of the District Collector’s office under the chairmanship of District Collector Kushal Motiram Chandra.
The meeting was organized under the supervision of District Emergency Officer Mrutyunjaya Sabar. Among those present were Nabal Agrawal, representative of the Revenue and Disaster Management Minister; Ramhari Pujari, representative of the Member of Parliament; Additional Superintendent of Police James Samad; Additional District Magistrate (Revenue) Lalit Soreng; Chief Development Officer of the Zilla Parishad Bishwaganjan Nayak; Sub-Collector Sabyasachi Panda; and other departmental officials.
During the meeting, all departments were advised to remain alert and fully prepared to tackle situations arising from heavy rainfall, floods, and possible cyclones. Special emphasis was laid on ensuring adequate stock of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides by the Agriculture Department before the monsoon season. The Power Department was instructed to keep all necessary repair equipment ready for emergency restoration work.
Considering the possibility of communication disruptions during natural disasters, the District Collector directed the Food Supply Department to stock essential food items and kerosene in remote areas well before the onset of the monsoon. To strengthen healthcare services, the Chief District Medical Officer was advised to ensure adequate stock of life-saving medicines, ORS packets, and anti-snake venom injections at the District Headquarters Hospital, Sub-Divisional Hospitals, and all Primary Health Centres.
The District Collector also held detailed discussions with all district-level officers, Block Development Officers, and Executive Officers of municipalities regarding pre-flood preparedness for the upcoming monsoon season. Stressing that the protection of lives and property during disasters should be the top priority, he instructed all departments to remain completely vigilant.
The meeting particularly focused on activating the District Emergency Control Room with trained personnel and ensuring submission of daily situation reports. Importance was also given to disseminating weather information and warnings widely at the grassroots level.
Officials were instructed to identify flood shelters in remote and vulnerable areas and ensure availability of safe drinking water, toilets, and sufficient dry food supplies there. The District Collector also directed authorities to prepare clear evacuation plans and alternative transport routes for shifting people from waterlogged and low-lying areas to safer places.
Strategies were discussed for deployment of ODRAF and NDRF teams during floods and for maintaining coordination with voluntary organizations and Panchayati Raj representatives during rescue operations. BDOs and municipal officials were instructed to completely stop traffic on roads and bridges submerged by floodwaters and to install barricades and warning signboards at such locations.
The District Collector further directed that special teams be kept ready for restoration of electricity and assessment of damages after disasters. The review meeting emphasized that every department should treat the possibility of cyclones or floods as a highly urgent and important matter and perform its responsibilities efficiently.
Officials from the Agriculture, Power, Animal Resources, Fisheries, Health, Public Health Engineering, Municipal Administration, Forest, Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, Fire Services departments, and ODRAF teams attended the meeting and discussed measures for smooth and effective disaster management operations.
Leave a Reply