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Dimapur, July 4 (EMN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio convened a ‘state-level meeting on monsoon preparedness’ in Kohima on Saturday with his cabinet ministers, advisors and top government officials led by the chief secretary.
According to a DIPR report, the objective of the meeting was to ‘get prepared for the natural calamities that may happen because of the monsoon and take preventive measures to avoid loss of lives and properties’.
The officer on special duty to Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), Johny Ruangmai, briefed them on ‘monsoon preparedness’ with reference to previous year’s experiences and how the NSDMA had responded to the situation.
The engineer-in-chief of Public Works Department (PWD), Limatongdang Jamir, gave a detailed status of all the district roads. He said that with the onset of monsoon, roads connecting inter-districts, towns and villages in all the 24 divisions of the state have been affected by landslides, mudslides, subsidence etc.
However, with the active participation and concerted efforts of the department, damaged roads have been connected and restored for traffic in all the districts, he added.
The chief minister advised the department to ensure advance placement of funds to the authority concerned in the districts in order to help them take preventive measures quickly.
He also asserted that co-ordination between district administration, PWD and DDMA is important in order to tackle any eventuality.
“On many migrant labourers engaged in road construction activities going out of the state due to Covid-19 pandemic leading to stoppage of works, Rio said that the road construction agencies should make efforts to bring back skilled labourers and workers following the provisions of the SOP of the state in this regard and ensure resumption of all such stalled works. He also emphasised on getting over the shortage of skilled manpower by providing training to local manpower already available here so that their services could be used for handling various kinds of machineries and equipment,” read the report.
After the various briefings and presentations by government departments during the meeting, the chief minister suggested them to jointly inspect the roads, see how water flows in the drainages during monsoon, especially during heavy rains; and see where it has been clogged, obstructing the free flow of water, so that appropriate preventive action could be taken.
During the meeting the preparedness of Agri and allied departments, and the Food and Civil Supplies department, for ensuring availability of essential food items and commodities were also deliberated.
“The chief minister, while expressing overall satisfaction on the preparedness plans made by the departments, asked for continued efforts so as to further improve the plans and make it more resilient and comprehensive,” it added.