Prepare for monsoon, Udupi DC to officials

Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis instructed the officials to gear up to encounter the impending problems following the onset of monsoon.

Addressing the officials at a preparatory meeting held here to discuss the impending monsoon woes, the DC said precautionary measures should be taken and task forces should be formed to face the problems during the monsoon season. The officer instructed to set up the control rooms at district and taluk levels to attend emergency calls.

She said that last year, artificial floods were reported due to the unscientific national highway works. She said that task force should be set up immediately to attend to critical situations that might occur on roads.

The National Highway officials were directed to avoid such problems in the current year. The works should be carried out scientifically, she instructed. She said the national highway construction works at Padubidri, Kundapur to Shiroor is being carried out and NH officials should take precautionary measures to avoid accidents.

She ordered the Forest department officials to axe the dead and dangerous trees immediately without delay and excuses. The cost of equipment to cut the trees can be borne through Natural Calamity Relief Funds. She said the Police and Forest department officials should work in coordination. She also instructed the Forest department officials to list out the necessary expense and to submit the report.

Fire Service department should be equipped with essential arrangements and if there are no dive experts in the force, the department should seek help from the private parties. Every department should come up with reserve mapping including the tahsildars and executive officers.

The schools in the district should ensure the safety of children during transport. She said the RTO and the Education department should look into the formation of Children Protection Committee following the Supreme Court order. Special meeting should be held to discuss the safety of the children. The Health department should take measures to curtail the spreading of communicable water and vector borne diseases.

She directed MESCOM to submit a report on monsoon preparation. Veterinary department should immediately report the postmortem of the livestock if it is found dead, she said. The problems encountered by people near vented dams, sea shore, bridges, low lying areas should be studied immediately. She said that Port and Fisheries department, Small Irrigation department, PWD should work in coordination and should put up the warning boards near mining areas. Swimming in these areas should be banned and KIARDL is into the fencing of these areas.

Tahsildars should act on war footing if there is an emergency. The Tourism department officials were told to be careful while taking up projects on beaches. She said the disaster management unit in the district is taking up mock exercise from May 18 to 31.