Shillong, May 2: As part of Meghalaya’s disaster preparedness ahead of the South West Monsoon season, a high-level meeting was chaired on Friday by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma
Key agenda items discussed were on the dissemination of warnings and alerts from concerned departments and immediate sharing at all levels, emergency response activities to be undertaken by districts and departments.
The chief minister emphasised on the need to have a proactive approach to disaster management including hazard mapping of disaster-prone areas, coordination between the departments concerned as well as sending early warnings of weather-related hazard that could occur. He pointed out that when a disaster occurs, people need to be assisted immediately as soon as possible, especially when it comes to releasing ex-gratia, assistance on house damaged and basic needs. He also requested all the Deputy Commissioners to ensure immediate relief is provided, and whatever information that is available should be disseminated to the people, especially at the grassroot level.
Status of disaster management plans including evacuation plans, vulnerability assessment of districts, identification of nodal officers and activation of control room, preparedness drills and mock exercises related to disasters, status of the Disaster & Relief Monitoring System (DRMS) were also some of the agenda that were focused upon. Sector-based preparedness measures like roads, power, water and others are required to be in place.
The meeting underscored the continued commitment of the government, and all stakeholders concerned to address disasters through coordinated planning, disaster management plans and strengthening and functionality of block and village disaster management committees. Timely response mechanisms to ensure the protection of lives, livelihoods and infrastructure against disaster risks was also discussed.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, Chief Secretary Donald P Wahlang, Commissioner & Secretary, Revenue & Disaster Management Sanjay Goyal, Officials of Revenue & Disaster Management Department; SDMA, IMD, SDRF, PWD, PHE, Health, Water Resources, Agriculture, Deputy Commissioners of different districts, DDMAs and others also virtually attended the meeting.
