Asks to strengthen vulnerable river embankments, maintain supply of essentials .
Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan Tuesday reviewed the arrangements at Emergency Operation Centre (EoC) established here at Hari Niwas in the backdrop of rise in Jhelum Water Level.
The government has established the Emergency Operation Centre to deal with any eventuality that may arise due to flood like situation. The Advisor directed for establishing more Emergency Operation Centres (EoC); stocking up of sandbanks at the vulnerable Jhelum and Doodganga embankments; building stores for dumping of essential commodities; besides constituting teams comprising health, sanitation, revenue, police and SDRF for deployment at these centres to deal with any kind of emergency situation. Expressing his satisfaction over the arrangements made at Hari Niwas EoC, the Advisor said the need is to create more such facilities and evacuation centres with all basic amenities including essential supplies for safety of evacuated persons and families as and when need arises.
He said that the whole plan has to be dovetailed with transport and evacuation plan and making the provision of boats. Noting that usually lakhs of population get affected during flood like situations, he said it is imperative that two more such (EoCs) centres are established in a bid to have sufficient arrangement. “Besides, there is a need of mock-drills with the designated mohallah level-teams and volunteers at the local level,” he said.
He directed the concerned to make sure that every centre shall have a camp commander, who should be abreast with all the information including inventory, bedding capacity and stock position of essentials available at the centre. Baseer Khan directed for sufficient stocks and supply of essentials like ration, drinking water, chlorine tablets, baby food items, female sanitary items, besides, critical equipment like tents. The Advisor said besides stock up plan, an immaculate evacuation plan also needs to be put in place to avert any kind of loss in case of a natural disaster.
He said boats should be kept ready at all the times around EoCs so that in case of flood like situation people would be immediately rescued. Baseer Khan also directed for strengthening of river embankments, stocking up of sand bags at the identified vulnerable points of river bodies especially Jhelum and Doodganga. Men and machinery should always be kept in ready mode to deal with flood like situation emerging anywhere in the Valley, the Advisor said.
Besides, using drone, and the cameras placed at Nehru Park and Shankaracharya, the Advisor said five to six more cameras should be installed at vulnerable spots especially at Lasjan and Bemina so that monitoring could be done from one place. Earlier, the Advisor was briefed about various arrangements put in place at EoC and the steps taken to mitigate the threat of flood like situation in Valley by the officers of the Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Department (DMRRR).
The department also conducted a mock drill where the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) team exhibited their skills while rescuing a drowning person. The Director DMRRR Amir Ali briefed the Advisor that besides, other arrangements put in place, the team would also be using drone services which would provide the images in real time. He said it would greatly reduce the risk of human losses in case of floods. He informed that there is an advanced flood alert system in place. The Advisor was informed that the Jhelum’s carrying capacity has been raised from 32000 cusec to 42000 cusec and the target is to take it to 60000 cusec. The meeting was attended by DC Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Chowdary, and other officers. (KNO)
