From Staff Correspondent
Shillong, Jan 8: Meghalaya Chief Secretary PBO Warjri recently chaired a review meeting with officials from the Civil Defence and Home Guards, Urban Affairs department, PWD, MeECL, Health, Revenue and Disaster Magement, tiol Informatics Centre, Fire & Emergency Service and the East Khasi Hills district administration to take stock of the disaster preparedness in the wake of recent Manipur earthquake. The meeting decided to conduct safety audit of the life-line buildings in the State within a time frame and issue an advisory for the retrofitting of the existing buildings which were constructed prior to the ectment of the Revised Building Bye Laws of Meghalaya Urban Development Authority, 2011. A prelimiry check of dams of the MeECL was carried out which indicated that no damage has taken place. The Dam Safety Cell of MeECL will carry out further detailed inspections. A Dam Safety Review Panel in the State with exterl experts would be set up. All departments were asked to prepare their Standard Operating Procedure to be followed in case of a disaster. The Health department was advised to prepare a contingency plan for setting up of temporary hospitals for mass casualty treatment. The Power department was advised to explore emergency power backup plans for the important life-line buildings in the State.