SHILLONG, May 3: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma recently chaired a meeting with State Disaster Management Authority and other line departments to review the state’s monsoon preparedness.
Also present during the meeting were Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong, Minister, Health Ampareen Lyngdoh, Chief Secretary, D P Wahlang and senior officials from IMD, PHE, Health, PWD, Power etc.
Deputy Commissioners and district officers from all the districts of the state also attended the meeting via video conferencing.
Related Posts:
The Chief Minister taking stock of the preparedness for the upcoming monsoons said that effective coordination between different departments and organisations is crucial in the preparedness plan not only to reduce and mitigate the effects but also ensures effective and efficient response minimising loss and suffering and to restore normalcy.
He added that relief, water and housing should be provided immediately in case of an event. While stressing on the role and involvement of the Block Disaster Management Committees, the Village Disaster Managements Committees and Village Executive Committees the Chief Minister directed the deputy commissioners to convene regular meetings and added that specific and defined directions and guidelines are to be given to the village organisations.
He also emphasised on the need to disseminate information to people at the grassroots level in a systematic manner through various media and in local languages. He also informed about the measures taken by the government to improve early warning systems and added, “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.”
The Chief Minister also reviewed the availability of manpower, inventory/equipment like earth movers, boats etc. He also said that road, water and power are critical sectors that are significantly affected and directed these sectors for heightened preparedness. He further said preparedness and mock drills are to be conducted more frequently as regular mock drills promote a sense of preparedness. (NNN)
