Chief Minister directs departments to complete monsoon preparedness measures

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V D Satheesan has directed all government departments to urgently complete pre-monsoon preparedness work to reduce the risk of disasters during the rainy season. He issued the instructions while addressing a high-level meeting held at the Chief Minister's Conference Hall.

The Chief Minister said that all departments must strictly follow the guidelines outlined in the Disaster Management Authority's Orange Book. He also called for stronger coordination with central agencies and weather monitoring systems to improve the accuracy of weather forecasts.

Departments have been instructed to scientifically monitor dam safety, rainfall, and water flow. They must maintain regular communication with the Central Water Commission and the Dam Safety Authority. Officials should ensure that water levels in dams do not exceed the prescribed rule curve limits. Local self-government institutions and village-level authorities have been asked to update lists of people living in disaster-prone areas. Information on families and migrant workers living in landslide-prone regions should also be collected so that timely warnings can be issued.

The Chief Minister directed local bodies to complete pre-monsoon cleaning activities without delay. Obstructions in drains, streams, and canals should be removed, and waste disposal activities should be accelerated.

Basic facilities such as toilets, electricity, lighting, fans and a kitchen should be ensured in buildings designated as relief camps.

Authorities have also been instructed to work with the National Highways Authority to address waterlogging in areas where national highway construction is underway. Potholes on roads should be repaired, and warning signs should be installed at accident-prone locations.

Schools must ensure that compound walls, roofs, and nearby trees are safe and do not pose any danger. Hospitals should maintain adequate medicine stocks, and facilities for snakebite treatment must be kept ready. Efforts to prevent the spread of infectious diseases should also be strengthened.

The meeting decided that the Chief Secretary would coordinate activities at the state level, while district collectors would oversee coordination at the district level. Ministers Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan, and A P Anil Kumar, along with Chief Secretary A Jayathilak, department secretaries, and district collectors, attended the meeting.