Quick response teams will be formed at tehsil level to effectively deal with disasters in disaster-sensitive Uttarakhand. This step is being taken with the aim of speeding up the work related to relief and rescue, damage assessment, relief distribution, reconstruction and rehabilitation. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed all the districts to form these teams as soon as possible. He also emphasized that during the monsoon period, the meeting of these teams should be held compulsorily on 1st, 11th and 21st of every month. Chief Minister Dhami reached the State Emergency Operations Center at IT Park on Monday and took stock of the situation arising due to rain in the state. On this occasion, he asked to include representatives of various departments and technical experts in the quick response teams. He interacted with all the District Magistrates through virtual medium and took information on the condition of roads, arrangements for Chardham and Kanwar Yatra, status of electricity, drinking water schemes and other subjects. He instructed to take precautions in view of the red alert issued for rain for four districts. He said that all officers should remain in alert mode 24 hours a day during the entire monsoon season. To avoid loss of life and property, it should be ensured that people get the update of weather forecast immediately. For this, disaster management system should be kept active up to the village level. He said that the roads obstructed due to rain should be made operational quickly. He also instructed to ensure availability of necessary equipment at places sensitive to landslides, to minimize the response time in emergency situations. He also asked to ensure adequate availability of essential commodities including food grains and medicines in the hill districts. Mentioning the problem of waterlogging in urban areas, he instructed to make all necessary arrangements to deal with it. He also instructed to monitor the water level of rivers, to provide regular weather updates to Chardham pilgrims, to provide all facilities at the halting places for the pilgrims in case of road obstruction. Officers should go to the spot and take stock of the situation
The Chief Minister also directed the officers to go to the ground and take stock of the situation. This increases the morale of the personnel working at ground zero as well as increases the trust of the general public towards the government and administration.
Take effective steps to curb accidents
The Chief Minister expressed concern over the increasing accidents and said that necessary action should be ensured to curb road accidents and accidents caused by drowning in the river. He said that people should be appealed to stay away from the river banks and told about the dangers. An effective strategy should be made by studying the reasons for road accidents.
Change traffic plan according to the weather
He also emphasized on changing the traffic plan according to the weather conditions. He said that if any route has become sensitive due to rain, then traffic should be operated through alternative routes. If danger is felt, vehicles should be stopped at safe places.
Remove encroachments blocking the path of water
While mentioning about dealing with the waterlogging situation in plain areas, the Chief Minister said that if waterlogging is happening due to encroachment somewhere, then steps should be taken to identify such encroachments and remove them. Also, in view of the possibility of flood, he also asked to take the people living in the affected areas to safer places.
There should be no incidents of electric current spreading
The Chief Minister directed to take effective steps to prevent incidents like electric current spreading due to rain. He said that it should be ensured that such incidents do not happen. He also stressed on getting the security audit of dilapidated buildings done and said that if any school or hospital is being run in such buildings, then alternative arrangements should be made for them immediately.
