Sangma reviews state of disaster preparedness in Garo Hills

From Staff Correspondent

Shillong, June 13: Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma held a meeting with officials from the district and line departments on Friday evening at Tura Circuit House to review the level of preparedness in view of the recent advisory from Indian Meteorological Department for eventuality of floods in the region.

Minister for Sports & Youth Affairs, Zenith Sangma, Parliamentary Secretaries Brigady N Marak, Cherak W Momin, Noverfield R Marak and Sengm Marak, Chief Executive Member GHADC, Alphonse A Sangma and other MDCs were also present at the review meeting.

After hearing the situation report of the district briefed by the Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi, the Chief Minister stressed the need for sensitizing the people as community response is very crucial in times of disaster. He also asked the district administration to inform the elected representative and traditiol heads whenever disasters occur so that timely response can be given from their end. He also called for sensitizing the people in the form of short plays.

Sangma also emphasized the need to revive the Village Disaster Magement Committees (VDMCs) and have mock drills with community involvement. "Every block should hold such mock drills in the next 60 days," he said.

In view of the repeated incidents of earthquake and given the background of 1897 earthquake, the Chief Minister was of the view that there was a need to look at disasters from seismic perspective, beyond floods and landslides.

Referring to the erratic weather conditions prevailing in the last few months, the Chief Minister said that departments like agriculture should have proper contingency plan in place and stressed the need to have buffer stock of seeds.

Earlier the Deputy Commissioner, while briefing the Chief Minister on the state of preparedness in the district, informed that all Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs) were ready to be functiol during emergencies, adding that so far there has been no report of any floods or landslides or damages from any part of the district except for the report of rising water level in Selsella block.

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