Complete pre-monsoon preps, CM urges depts

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief minister V D Satheesan on Saturday directed all govt departments to urgently complete their pre-monsoon preparedness activities in view of the risks posed by unexpected weather changes and potential disasters, including landslides.

Satheesan said at a high-level meeting to review the state’s monsoon preparedness measures that all departments must ensure strict adherence to the guidelines in the Orange Book published by the state disaster management authority. He also stated that coordination with central agencies and weather monitoring systems should be strengthened to make weather forecasts more scientific.

“The safety of dams, availability of rainfall and water flow should be scientifically monitored. Departments should maintain continuous contact with the Central Water Commission and the dam safety authority. It must be ensured that water levels in reservoirs do not exceed the rule curve. Lists of people in disaster-prone areas should be updated at the local self-govt and village levels. A system should be set up to collect information on families and migrant workers in landslide-prone areas and deliver timely warnings,” Satheesan said.

He also said that local bodies must urgently complete pre-monsoon cleaning. “Obstructions in drains, streams and canals should be removed, and waste disposal should be expedited. Mosquito eradication activities should also be intensified.”

“Basic facilities, including toilets, electricity, lights, fans and kitchens, should be ensured in buildings used as relief camps. Information about camp centers should be made available to the public,” the CM told officials.

“In areas where waterlogging occurs due to national highway construction activities, remedial measures should be taken in collaboration with the National Highway Authority. Potholes on roads should be filled, and warning boards should be installed in hazardous areas,” he added.

The safety of schools should be checked to ensure that boundary walls, roofs and nearby trees are not in a dangerous condition, he said and added that the availability of necessary medicines in the health sector should be ensured.

“Treatment facilities for snakebites should be prepared, and the availability of antivenom and other medicines should be confirmed. Epidemic prevention activities should be strengthened,” Satheesan said.

“Disaster potentials should be identified by integrating local knowledge and scientific information. Programmes should be organized to create awareness among students about the importance of rain gauges,” he added.

All departments and agencies from the ward level to the state level should work in coordination, and it was decided at the meeting that the chief secretary at the state level and collectors at the district level should ensure coordination of activities, the CM added.