Ludhiana, June 21 (000): Deputy Commissioner (DC) Pradeep Kumar Agrawal reviewed arrangements for dealing with floods in the district today. Chairing a high-level meeting of all departments here at the Bachat Bhawan, the DC instructed the officials to constantly coordinate with each other via WhatsApp group to closely monitor the situations in the monsoon season.
He ordered the officials to keep their mobiles ‘switch on’ round the clock and any kind of indiscipline will not be tolerated. He suggested them to share information about the situation regularly in the group. District heads of all departments will work as a nodal officer for necessary arrangments and communications.
He ordered the Sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) to install wireless public address system in one vehicle to alert the people in the situation of floods. He also asked NDRF and Army officials to take the stock of sensitive places along with administration teams before the monsoon season starts.
He stated that SDMs will ensure the working of the flood control rooms round the clock and asked them to depute employees in shifts there.
The deputy commissioner told executive engineer drainage to keep a close vigil on all spots which were identified as sensitive during the inspections. He will also supervise the water level at Sutlej River and will give the information regularly, DC added.
The irrigation department’s officials will ensure the cleanliness of distributaries to save the crops in the situation of flood and MC Commissioner, Executive Officers and Deputy Director Local Bodies will have the responsibility of clearing drains.
The Deputy Commissioner asked the SDMs to make adequate arrangements to meet any sort of situation season and sufficient stock of boats, oars, life-saving jackets, motor engines, sandbags, wireless system, manpower, machinery, and tarpaulins should be ensured.
He was also told that safe places have been earmarked where residents of flood-affected areas will be shifted if required and SDMs should ensure the arrangements of drinking water facility, toilets there.
Mr. Agrawal showed satisfaction when informed by the officials they have already started making the arrangements. Additional Deputy Commissioners (ADC) Jagraon Neeru Katyal Gupta, ADC Khanna Jaspal Singh and heads of departments were present in the meeting.
