Malkangiri: A meeting of the district-level Natural Disaster Management Committee has been conducted. The event was attended by Nabarangpur MP Balabhadra Majhi, Malkangiri MLA Narsingha Matru Kami, Zilla Parishad Chairperson Samari Tangu, Chitrakonda MLA representative Godita Patra, Additional District Magistrate (Revenue) Principal Officer, and Additional Superintendent of Police Raj Kishore Das. The meeting was presided over by District Collector Ashish Zargar Patil, who emphasized the need to remain vigilant against possible natural disasters. He stated that any negligence in preparedness and assistance during a potential flood situation should be strictly avoided.
The District Collector directed that repair work of culverts and roads in Bandaghati, Jantri, Chitrakonda, and Tulasa Pahad areas should be completed before the onset of the monsoon. Measures must be taken to ensure that BSF camps are not cut off during the rainy season.
Tahasildars were instructed to identify flood shelter sites. Proposals for the construction of new flood shelters will be sent, according to the District Collector. Keeping in view the upcoming monsoon and potential flood risks, preparations will be made for the evacuation of people from low-lying flood-prone areas and for emergency alerts.
The meeting also discussed the establishment of 24×7 district and subdivision-level control rooms, cleaning of drains in all urban areas for water drainage before the monsoon, regular monitoring, stocking of essential food and drinking water in multipurpose shelters, supply of necessary emergency medicines, anti-snake venom and anti-rabies medicines, barricading flooded roads and bridges, blocking traffic, and managing traffic graphics.
MP Shri Majhi stated that all responsible officials should remain fully prepared for disaster management to ensure the safety of the lives and property of the district’s residents. Other attendees included Sub-Collector Duryodhan Roi, Executive Officer Ashok Chakraborty, District Emergency Officer Prafulla Kumar Behera, all Tahasildars of the district, BDOs, and officials from various departments, including the electricity department.