Chief Secretary reviews status of flood mitigation measures

SRINAGAR, JUNE 8: Chief Secretary, B B Vyas Thursday chaired a meeting here to review flood mitigation measures in Kashmir division and the status of the ongoing dredging work in various stretches of River Jhelum and the flood spill channel.

The meeting was attended by Financial Commissioner, Revenue, Chief Executive Officer, Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project, Administrative Secretaries of the departments of PDD, Health & Medical Education, Public Works and  DMRR&R, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, ADG Home Guards, Civil Defence,  IGP Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Commandant NDRF, Commandant SDRF, Chief Engineers of PDD, PWD, I&FC,UEED,EMRE, S&O, VC SDA, Director Fire & Emergency Services, Director Meteorological Department, Commissioner SMC, Director, Disaster Management and other officers.

Chief Secretary received brief from Chief Engineer, I&FC regarding the ongoing flood mitigation works being undertaken by the department and the status of dredging work.

Underscoring the need for reassessing the existing flood levels especially after the September -2014 floods, Chief Secretary asked the I&FC Department to undertake an exercise to arrive at the levels at which water is likely to cross the danger mark at various spots, as could lead to inundation of the flood prone areas especially in the Srinagar city. This will assists us in better understanding the various actions that can increase or decrease risk exposure, and to forge greater coordination in containing the flooding problem.

Stressing on expeditious completion of the dredging work of River Jhelum, Chief Secretary directed the Chief Engineer, I&FC Department to prepare and share the daily targets for dredging with the office of the Chief Secretary. Chief Secretary also reviewed the status of availability of sand bags, boats, blankets, tents, mobile dewatering pump sets, diesel sets and wherewithal needed during the pre and post disaster scenarios.

Chief Secretary also reviewed the progress of Earthquake Mitigation, Fire Safety Measures, Disaster Management Plans and Relief Centres.

Chief Secretary directed the Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction department to issue an advisory to the Housing & Urban Development Department and R&B Department to mainstream the building byelaws/codes in all Government Buildings and Police and Public Housing Colonies.