SRINAGAR, MAY 13:- Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole today convened a meeting to review the flood preparedness and mechanism put in place to tackle 2014 flood like situation.
The meeting was attended by Chief Engineer I&FC, General Manager BSNL, Kashmir, Business head Reliance JIO, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea, besides other concerned officers. The meeting held detailed discussion on the measures undertaken to combat any flood like situation and mechanism put in place for flood management. The meeting was informed that Irrigation and Flood Control department (I&FC) has taken various initiatives including installation of Automatic Water Level Recorders (WLRs) at various locations on River Jhelum at Sangam, Pampore, Ram Munshi Bagh & Asham and at its major tributaries including Sind, Lidder, Doodganga, Vaishaw & Rambiar. Besides, department is further expanding network of Automatic WLRs across the valley to obtain instant data.
The Divisional Commissioner directed the officers to adhere to the guidelines of National Disaster Management Authority(NDMA), Government of India to minimize vulnerability to floods and consequent loss of lives, livelihood systems, property and damage to infrastructure and public utilities. He also stressed telecom companies to follow SOPs laid down by NDMA and asked them that bulk SMS services should be made available for dissemination of warnings to the people preferably residing in low lying areas on real time basis, at the time of exigency.
The authorities of I&FC department were directed to update the list of all its available tools and plants and upload it on IDRM network besides prepare a list of boats available with different departments along with their locations. He also directed the concerned to update the Disaster Management plans and rectify the deficiencies, if any.
Pole exhorted the officers to complete all restoration works taken in hand and all measures undertaken are brought to conclusion so that situation like 2014 floods are tackled and managed effectively with minimum losses.