UP steps up preparations for floods

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government has stepped up preparations for relief operations in flood-prone districts following heavy rainfall in the past few days, an official said on Thursday.

PWD Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav has directed the district magistrates of these districts to ensure that all possible relief and evacuation measures are in place before floods hit.

IG (Law and Order) A. Satish Ganesh said that of the total 19 PAC flood relief companies, nine have already been dispatched to Lakhimpur Kheri, Sitapur, Barabanki, Gonda, Balrampur, Kushinagar, Shrawasti, Gorakhpur and Bahraich.

Fearing floods like every year, the state government has positioned nine companies of the flood relief unit of the provincial armed constabulary (PAC) in nine districts of the Terai region, an irrigation official told IANS.

Besides, eight companies have been put on stand by.

There are 30 small and big 'sensitive' embankments in Uttar Pradesh which get weakened or are washed away in the monsoons every year.

The Akhilesh Yadav government has also sanctioned a sum of Rs.300 crore for repair in these embankments and for other flood relief measures that needed to be taken in advance.

Essential food items, medicines are being stocked and teams of doctors are being selected.

While such floods are inevitable in wake of heavy rains every year, the PWD and irrigation minister has warned officials to ensure that loss of life, both human and cattle is minimised this year.

"Machines for desilting of rivers have also been pressed into service at some places so that the depth of the rivers could be increased which would minimise the threat of floods," an official said.