Srinagar: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness of various departments and agencies for dealing with floods, landslides and other emergencies during the forthcoming monsoon season, directing authorities to adopt a proactive approach to minimise loss of life and property.
The meeting was attended by senior administrative secretaries, divisional commissioners, police officials, deputy commissioners, representatives of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Power Development Department, Public Works Department and other stakeholder agencies.
Emphasising the need for advance planning, Dulloo directed the Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRR&R) Department, divisional administrations and district authorities to take all preventive measures well ahead of time to tackle floods, flash floods, landslides, cloudbursts and other natural disasters.
Drawing lessons from disasters witnessed across Jammu and Kashmir last year, the Chief Secretary said preparedness should go beyond departmental arrangements and be backed by strong inter-agency coordination. He observed that effective coordination among departments, emergency responders and district administrations remains crucial for successful disaster response, relief, restoration and rehabilitation efforts.
Dulloo called for comprehensive mapping of vulnerable areas based on disaster risk profiles and topographical conditions, directing authorities to identify hazard-prone locations and formulate mitigation strategies accordingly.
He also instructed departments to undertake safety audits of schools, hospitals and other public buildings to ensure the protection of critical infrastructure. Agencies including BRO, NHAI, PWD and other road construction organisations were asked to ensure swift restoration of roads and connectivity during emergencies to facilitate rescue and relief operations.
The Chief Secretary further directed departments to expedite permanent restoration works on infrastructure damaged in previous calamities. He asked the Power Development Department to conduct detailed risk assessments of its assets and installations to minimise vulnerabilities and ensure uninterrupted services during adverse weather conditions.
During the meeting, Principal Secretary DMRR&R, Chandraker Bharti, informed that a series of review meetings had been conducted over the past several months to finalise preparedness measures in accordance with disaster management protocols. He said adequate funds had already been placed at the disposal of deputy commissioners for procurement of safety gear and emergency equipment.
Bharti also informed that fire safety audits of government infrastructure are underway and the process of providing satellite phones to sub-divisional magistrates and vulnerable tehsils is being taken up for completion shortly. He urged district administrations to strictly follow standard operating procedures and prevent encroachments on water bodies and natural drainage systems.
Commandant SDRF, Imtiyaz Hussain Mir, highlighted the need to strengthen district-level SDRF units with modern rescue equipment and advocated greater mobilisation of Civil Defence volunteers.
The meeting was also briefed by Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, who outlined preparedness measures including flood control rooms, emergency reporting systems, early warning mechanisms, response units and road clearance plans. He also highlighted vulnerability mapping exercises, mock drills and deployment of Aapda Mitras and Civil Defence volunteers.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, presented details of preparedness measures across the Valley, including district-wise assessments of vulnerable villages, rescue centres, exposed populations and available facilities. He also briefed the meeting on arrangements being made for the safety and security of pilgrims during the forthcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, including the functioning of the Integrated Command and Control Centre at HMT Srinagar and deployment of specialised mountain rescue teams along the pilgrimage routes.
Chief Executive Officer, ERA, Shreya Singhal, informed the meeting that work on the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) at Ompora, Budgam, is progressing rapidly and nearing completion. She said several supporting structures have already been completed and are ready for handover, while the main EOC building is expected to be handed over by the end of July.
Deputy commissioners also presented district-specific preparedness measures and initiatives undertaken to strengthen local response capabilities. Meanwhile, officials of Project Sampark and Beacon assured the meeting that all necessary arrangements have been put in place to ensure uninterrupted connectivity and timely restoration of roads in the event of weather-related disruptions.
Reiterating the administration’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, the Chief Secretary directed all departments and district administrations to remain vigilant, maintain a high level of preparedness and ensure seamless coordination for an effective response to any eventuality during the monsoon season.
