Live
- NASA Tracks Five Giant Asteroids on Close Approach to Earth Today
- Pushpa 2 Hits ₹1000 Crore in 6 Days: How It Compares to Other Top Indian Films
- Vivo X200 and X200 Pro Launched in India: Price, Specifications, and Features
- Nitin Gadkari Admits Feeling Embarrassed at Global Summits Over Rising Road Accidents in India
- Comprehensive Review on Indiramma Housing Survey and Welfare Initiatives Conducted via Video Conference
- Jogulamba Temple Records Rs 1.06 Crore Hundi Revenue in 150 Days
- Opposition Slams ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill as Anti-Democratic; BJP Allies Support the Move
- Celebrate Karthigai Maha Deepam Virtually with Sri Mandir’s LIVE Darshan Experience
- BJP Extends Support to Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan Employees' Strike, Demands Immediate Regularization and Welfare Benefits
- Dr. M. Priyanka Stresses Quality Education, Nutritious Meals, and Cleanliness in Schools
Flood preparedness is a far cry
Notwithstanding the fact that Godavari river flows nearly 250 kilometres in Khammam district, State’s preparedness in handling major floods is just a mirage. True to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)’s report, which said a couple of years ago that State’s disaster preparedness is virtually nil, the situation in Khammam is no different.
Khammam: With the Meteorological Department predicting bountiful rainfall this monsoon and even flooding, old questions of State’s preparedness over the disaster management begin to loom large as there was no progress in forming a state-level disaster management team, headed by the Chief Minister and eight other members.
Notwithstanding the fact that Godavari river flows nearly 250 kilometres in Khammam district, State’s preparedness in handling major floods is just a mirage. True to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)’s report, which said a couple of years ago that State’s disaster preparedness is virtually nil, the situation in Khammam is no different.
But for the contingency plans such as keeping adequate quantity of buffer stock of essential commodities ready in the flood-prone areas to meet exigencies, and keeping ace swimmers on standby, there is not much focus on a permanent solution that tackles floods efficiently.
The misery inflicted by the Godavari floods in 2013 is still afresh in the memory of people living in Bhadrachalam Agency.
The then flash floods triggered by torrential rains wreaked havoc in at least 160 villages. At least 20 people died allegedly due to the failure of administration in providing health care facilities. The people stuck in marooned villages alleged that either they were supplied inadequate or stale food.
They were also forced to stay in make-shift tents because of the dilapidated condition of the rescue shelters. There was no adequate number of boats to ferry the people to rescue shelters.
The CAG in its report then pointed out that the funds for disaster management were either not released or not utilised in time and at times they were diverted for other purposes.
District Collector D S Lokesh Kumar, who instructed the officials to ensure essential commodities and medicines in flood-prone areas, is keen on strengthening communication system. He wanted to list out the villages that are affected in case of floods. He also wanted to have phone numbers of all the village revenue and village assistant
officers.
He also alerted the officials to keep emergency boats, ace swimmers and medical teams ready in case of floods, besides directing the irrigation officials to strengthen the banks of tanks in the flood-prone areas.
ITDA project officer Rajiv Gandhi Hanumanthu said: “Efforts are on to identify the rescue shelters, besides equipping them with basic amenities. Medical wing has been alerted to keep track of pregnant women to shift them to hospitals.”
By:Adepu Mahender
