Bhadradri gears up to deal with floods in monsoon season

Bhadrachalam: District Collector Rajat Kumar on Wednesday held a meeting with officials at Sub-Collector's office to discuss measures to be taken to deal with floods in river Godavari during the monsoon season.

He directed the district officials to prepare flood management plan as the department-wise tasks assigned and conduct meeting with the field-level staff by explaining them their duties. Steps to identify possible submergence areas, plans to respond to the flood situation, to identify locations for setting up relief camps and procurement of material have to be taken up.

During the meeting, review of past flood situations and the types of relief activities taken up was made and it was decided that based on previous experiences, the Godavari Flood Management Plan has to be prepared. Proposals on use of helicopters for rescue operations have to be submitted, the Collector suggested.

The Collector told officials to write letters to NDRF and the SCCL requesting them to engage their rescue teams during floods. Steamers, expert swimmers, medicines and equipment to remove the uprooted trees and electric poles have to be made available at the time of floods, he said.

Steps to ensure supply of drinking water, essential commodities required for three months, chlorine, ORS sachets have to be made available. A list of medical staff has to be prepared, Saini explained.

In order to prevent flood waters entering Bhadrachalam town, desilting of major drains has to be taken up and motor pumps should be kept ready to clear water-logging. Similarly, mobile medical teams have to be readied, Saini told the officials.

He wanted the village, mandal and district-level officials to work in coordination with each other and regularly monitor the flood situation with the help of CWC officials. Meetings in villages have to be conducted frequently to educate the villagers to reach safer places in case of floods.

ITDA PO VP Gautham, Joint Collector K Venkateswaralu, Sub-Collector Bhavesh Misra and other officials were present.