All departments directed to coordinate closely with ASDMA; NDRF teams prepositioned across key districts
Guwahati, May 18 — With the monsoon season approaching, Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota conducted a high-level review meeting to assess the state's flood preparedness and directed all departments and agencies to coordinate closely with the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) for effective flood management.The meeting, held in Guwahati on Saturday, was attended by top officials from various state departments and central agencies. District commissioners from across the state participated virtually.
ASDMA Chief Executive Officer Gyanendra D Tripathi presented a detailed overview of the agency's preparedness measures at both the state and district levels. He highlighted that seven thematic meetings with stakeholders and video conferences with all District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) have already been conducted to ensure a comprehensive 360-degree assessment of flood readiness.
Chief Secretary Kota emphasized the importance of inter-agency coordination, urging all departments to collaborate closely with ASDMA during the flood season for seamless disaster response.
NDRF and SDRF Deployment Plans Finalized
Officials from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) informed that 14 of their 18 teams from the 1st Battalion are deployed across Assam, prepositioned in districts including Cachar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, and Jorhat. Additionally, the 12th Battalion will have teams stationed in Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Dhemaji, and Sonitpur.Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) officials stated that 639 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel, along with 299 fully operational rescue boats, are strategically placed across 58 locations in the state to respond swiftly to emergencies during the monsoon.
Key Directives and Action Plans
Several key decisions were taken during the meeting to enhance flood preparedness:- District commissioners have been instructed to engage NDRF teams for training local responders and communities.
- The Public Health Engineering Department will support urban local bodies in ensuring access to safe drinking water for affected populations.
- The Agriculture Department has been tasked with initiating a special enrollment drive for crop insurance to protect farmers from flood-related losses.