State government decides to speed up pre-monsoon arrangements

The state government has decided to complete arrangements for the upcoming southwest monsoon season as soon as possible. The decision was made at a meeting chaired by Revenue Minister K. Rajan on Friday.

Rajan said that a regional action plan will be formulated in the region by May 20. Plan training courses to quickly activate incident response systems at the region and TALUK level. The meeting decided to update the list of places where people who are vulnerable to disasters live.

Friday’s meeting also directed the government departments to ensure that the measures set out in the Orange Disaster Management published by the Kerala State Disaster Management Agency (KSDMA) have been adopted before the monsoon. An updated version of the document is expected to be released on May 25.

Relief camp

Local agencies have been directed to publish details of buildings used to open relief camps. A tribal small village disaster management plan will be drafted as part of the monsoon season arrangement. As part of the measure, publicity plans will be held in areas that are vulnerable to landing. The government said the warning will be displayed at tourist locations.

Instructions were also issued to closely monitor water levels in the state’s reservoirs and to ensure that shutters and spillways in the dam were operational.

Special Regional Reviews will be held in all regions in the first few weeks of July, August and September. These meetings will be chaired by the Minister or the relevant regional collectors.

Hygienic and effective

Local autonomous agencies have directed pre-monsoon sanitation projects and measures to eliminate mosquitoes. They were also instructed to ensure that drains and canals are removed, culverts are removed from waste and debris before rains strengthen the state.

Equipment required for rescue and relief surgery will be stored in all local bodies. The Regional Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) will approve the funds required to purchase equipment specified by KSDMA. Grama Panchayats will be approved for Rs 1 lakh, municipalities Rs 3 lakh and Rs 5 lakh.