Brace up to face monsoon challenge, dist officials told

Principal Secretary to Revenue Department Dr Rajkumar Khatri on Saturday said the district administration should initiate all precautionary measures to face monsoon as Coastal Karnataka is likely to receive heavy rainfall during the season as per weather prediction.

Chairing a preparatory meeting with the district administration officials of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada here, he said the coastal cities are likely to face floods during the monsoon. The district administration should gear up to face all eventualities, he stated.

“Emergency relief teams should be constituted in all the taluks. Control rooms should be set up in every taluk and they should function round-the-clock,” he said.

The Meteorological Department has set up Varunamithra helpline—9243345433 to get information on the weather conditions in different parts of the state, he added.

Khatri said the fire service personnel, Coast Guard, Police and Health Department officials should work in coordination. Awareness should be created on facing natural calamities through mock exercises among general public, he told the officials.

The authorities should keep rubber boats and life jackets ready. Priority should be given for supply of water, health care and electricity during flood, he noted.

Reviewing the prevaililng drought situation, he said the district administrations should give priority to drinking water. 

Dakshina Kannada  Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim said the district administration will prepare an action plan to face monsoon rain. The lifting of water from river Nethravathi for industrial and agriculture purposes has been banned in the district. All the urban local bodies and gram panchayats have been directed to supply drinking water to its citizens on a priority basis, he said.

 Udupi DC Dr Vishal R said water crisis is not severe in Udupi town. The district administration has made all arrangements to supply water in rural areas, he added.