Chirang district administration reviews flood preparedness in district

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOKRAJHAR: The Chirang district administration on Tuesday reviewed the flood preparedness measures with the heads of line departments in the presence of representative from ASDMA (Assam State Disaster Management Authority) as Nodal Officer for Chirang district, Biren Baishya.

In the review meeting held under the chairmanship of ADC, Chirang, Ajit Kumar Sarmah at the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner's office at Kajalgaon, Nodal Officer Baishya was given a brief overview of the district, previous year's flood scenario, rescue and relief operation status, including various aspects in connection with the flood preparedness measures so far being taken by the district administration for the current year through power point presentation.

In his speech, terming the flood situation of Chirang district as flash flood due to the bordering district of Bhutan, ADC Baishya requested the ASDMA representative to arrange to provide some more basic requirements like four more rubber boats in addition to the existing six rubber boats, rubber boots for lot mandals, megaphone, and to arrange and keep ready a special NDRF wing for Chirang district from the NDRF team stationed at Bongaigaon. He hoped that with the infrastructure and materials available with the district administration, it could deal with the flood disaster in the current year.

While addressing the meeting, Nodal Officer Baishya informed that he was deputed by the ASDMA with two objectives - to review the flood preparedness measures and to ensure a very good flood response in the district. He said that he conducted a field visit with the circle officers and officials of the water resources department to check the erosion affected embankments and proposed relief camp sites in the district. Sharing his observation of the field visit, he informed that he would raise the issues of maintaining the existing embankments of DRDA and agriculture department at the higher level as the repairing of these embankments could not be done because of lack of adequate funds with these departments.

During the meeting, considering the COVID situation, he suggested to set up relief camps by strictly following the COVID protocol or SOP of the government for setting up of relief camps. He also asked to set up model relief camps by arranging facilities like running water, toilet facilities for both male and female separately, electricity and child-friendly space. He also asked to initiate steps for providing sanitary napkins to female relief camp inmates during the flood situation. The meeting was attended by Assistant Commissioner Pratisha Dutta, Circle Officers of Sidli, Bengtal and Bijni.

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