Better equipped, claims Dispur

CHENI AFTERMATH

Parallel system of wireless connectivity being installed up to the revenue circle level

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Dec 4: As Cheni scrambled to meet the disaster triggered by unprecedented rains, Assam government on Friday claimed it was better equipped and prepared than earlier to meet any such disaster, as it cited altertive connectivity lines and other equipments it has put in place as part of the preparedness.

Besides working on connectivity channels, the State government was also concentrating on protecting water bodies and hill sides.

PK Tiwari, CEO, Assam State Disaster Magement Authority (ASDMA), said, “We can say with some certainty that Assam is better equipped to face a situation like Cheni. A series of decisions taken by the State government will eble us to response to disasters effectively.”

He pointed out that a vital problem at Cheni has been the collapse of the communication channel and said the Assam government has already taken initiatives to ensure smooth flow of information in face of a major disaster.

The ASDMA has a dedicated landline phone number and a toll free number at its main office here and the BSNL has been requested for 10 lines on the same toll free number. Similarly, all districts have applied for five lines each in a single toll free number.

“In the eventuality of these phone connections collapsing, we are installing a parallel system of wireless connectivity up to the revenue circle level across the State. An amount of Rs 6 crore has already been sanctioned for installation of this latest technology,” Tiwari said.

In case of urban floods, where search and rescue operations are the primary objectives of ASDMA, three mechanized boats have been sanctioned for 21 districts, each having capacity of carrying 25-30 people, he said.

Additiolly, 10 rafts have been sanctioned for Guwahati city alone, he added.

The ASDMA CEO further informed that 16 automatic weather stations, which will forecast and help aylse the latest situation, are being installed in Guwahati.

He also pointed that the State has two companies of State Disaster Response Force teams and another company is being raised, which will be commissioned before next monsoons.

“In order to make the people disaster-resilient, village land magement and conservation committees are being formed. About 16,500 such committees have already been formed and another 500 will be formed shortly,” Tiwari said.

Similar ward committees will also be formed in the urban areas by end of next February, he added, and all members of these village and ward level committees will be given training by the authorities.

The ASDMA CEO pointed that the situation in Cheni was aggravated due to encroachment of water bodies and construction on low-lying areas, as media reports have shown.

“To negate that possibility, we have already been concentrating on protection of water bodies and clearing hill areas,” he said.