In the midst of the ongoing spell of pre-monsoon showers across the state, a district level pre-monsoon preparedness meeting was held on Thursday at the Siang Hall, which was chaired by Deputy Commissioner cum District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Tamiyo Tatak.
Various issues like department wise monsoon preparedness plans, disaster relief measures, early warning system, checking the readiness of equipment and communication system, advance procurement of necessary relief materials, coordinated approach for disaster response in the districts and community-based disaster management and lessons learned from the previous preparedness and disaster response activities were thoroughly discussed at the meeting.
Tatak while urging the participants to take advance action in order to tackle the upcoming monsoon has directed all line departments to further review and submit their disaster management plans as soon as possible. He emphasized the need for greater coordination and cooperation from various stakeholders and non-governmental agencies in order to tackle disasters collectively.
The DDMA also laid stress on timely issuance of notice to people living in vulnerable areas and maintaining stocks of life-saving drugs and food grains. He instructed the officers to be available in their respective places of posting in a state of full alert to chase any disastrous situation. He further instructed various stakeholders and non-governmental agencies to ensure that fire distinguishers are installed in all government establishments and prominent places including schools.
Vital suggestions and preventive measures for the upcoming monsoon were shared and deliberated upon by the SP East Siang. He highlighted the crucial role of the police and fire control services. SP Prashant Gautam assured all possible help and assistance to DDMA. Natural disasters are unpredictable and inevitable and therefore measures and good practices should be adopted in combating the disaster and future calamities, he opined.
Among others, Maj APS Kandari (Sigar Military Station), DDMO in-charge Dr G Jonkey, officers of the District Disaster Management Committee and representatives from Army and GREF attended.