Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 28: Chief Secretary, B B Vyas chaired a meeting of State Executive Committee under State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), here today.
Principal Secretary Home RK Goyal, Principal Secretary to CM Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary Health & ME Dr Pawan Kotwal, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Khan, Commissioner/Secretary PWD Sanjeev Verma, Commissioner/ Secretary Revenue Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Commissioner/Secretary RD & PR Nirmal Sharma besides senior officers from concerned departments were present in the meeting.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu Mandeep Bhandari also attended the meeting through video conferencing.
Chief Secretary taking cognizance of the progress made on decisions taken in the 6th meeting of J&K SDMA under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, directed for preparing and submitting District Disaster Management Plans for all districts at the earliest besides undertaking district and department wise inventorisation of resources.
He also reviewed the progress made in adopting Community Based Disaster Response and involving local institutions in responding to emergencies.
While reviewing the Flood Mitigation Preparedness and Response Plan, Chief Secretary asked for taking measures for strengthening and raising the height of protection bunds on the banks of river Jhelum; similar measures to be taken for river Ravi and river Chenab.
With regards to the preparedness of Health and Medical Education Department, Principal Secretary Dr Kotwal informed the Chief Secretary that department has already conducted risk assessment of medical and trauma care facilities to minimize damages in the event of disasters, besides, essential life saving drugs and critical machinery has been moved above ground level in healthcare institutions.
During the meeting, discussions were also held on procurement of critical rescue equipment including boats, blankets, satellite & wireless phones, life jackets, dewatering pumps, besides heavy duty generators to supplement power supply in case of any major power breakdown/failure due to a disaster.
Progress was also reviewed on steps taken for creation of two additional battalions of SDRF.
Further, directions were passed to all development related departments including Public Works, HUDD, PDD, PHE, I&FC, and RDD to ensure that infrastructure built by the departments is made disaster resistant particularly resistant to earthquakes and floods.
During the meeting, threadbare discussions were also held on various important issues regarding strengthening the State’s response to disaster situations including updating the State Disaster Management Policy, strengthening SDMA and DDMAs, State Disaster Response Force, besides linking weather forecasts by MET Department with JKSDMA website.
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