Madikeri:  Kodagu District Administration has geared up itself and has cautioned people about possible landslips during the monsoon season this year also and take precautionary measures to mitigate its impact.

Karnataka Principal Secretary of Revenue Department (Disaster Management) Rajkumar Khatri on Friday took stock of the ground situation in the district following last year’s devastation due to heavy rain, the measures initiated by the district administration and relief efforts etc., and asked officials to be pro-active. The officials were told to focus on areas prone to landslips as part of their preparations.

He said that though the monsoons were nearly a month away, various teams constituted for rescue and relief should start coordinating their efforts and brace for any eventuality.

Crop loss

Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy presented an overview of the crop loss suffered by farmers and pointed out that 33,548 farmers had incurred losses were recorded by the authorities. As on date Rs. 32.76 crore has been disbursed and credited to their Bank accounts, she added.

Infrastructure damage

With regard to infrastructure damage and repairs undertaken by the government, the Principal Secretary was informed  that the Department of Public Works had taken up 52 major works in the district, the Department of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development had taken up 176, while CESC and other Departments had take up 821 works which were completed after last year’s calamity. Besides, 251 infrastructure repair and upgradation works were taken up and completed under special grants released by the government.

Rehabilitation of people

The review meeting also focused on rehabilitation of people who had lost their property during the landslips and floods last year. The DC said that 427 people affected by the natural calamity would be rehabilitated with housing in the first phase and 427 families in the second phase. The construction of houses were in progress at Karnangeri, Biligere, Galibeedu, Made, Jamboor villages and basic amenities had to be extended which would be completed in due course, she added.

Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) Director Srinivas Reddy allayed fears over a repeat of last year’s calamity as reported in a section of the media. He said the KSNDMC had installed Telemetric rain gauges across the district and it was possible to get information every 15 minutes which enables them to make forecasts 8 to 10 days in advance.

24/7 control room

K. Mohan, District Health and Family Welfare Officer said five teams have already been constituted at the district level to coordinate all health-related works that need to be rolled out in the event of flood. Hospitals and Public Health Centres were given stock of essential medicines. Officials visited a few villages affected by landslips.

A 24/7 control room has been set up at the Deputy Commissioner’s office while  National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and GSI officials along with district officials have taken precautionary measures with relation to setting up relief camps.

NDRF deployment

Officials said that the first batch of NDRF will reach Kodagu in the last week of May and will be deployed at sensitive locations by the end of the month. They said the District Disaster Management Authority has also been constituted while District Disaster Management Plan was also in the final stages of preparations.

In all, 12 district level committees have been constituted for better coordination and organisation of rescue and relief mission in the event of any natural calamity. This includes an early warning and evacuation committee, search and rescue committee, shelter management, first aid, mass casualty management and health relief management, food committee, communications, reconstruction and rehabilitation among others.