ACS Jal Shakti Department reviews flood preparedness

Srinagar, July 3: Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra Wednesday chaired a review meeting regarding flood preparedness in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing the meeting, ACS Kabra called for devising an effective strategy to deal with the anticipated floods. He called for evolving proper Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to tackle with the situation where every concerned individual is fully acquainted with his or her role and responsibility in the times of emergency.

The ACS directed the officers to remain in a state of alertness to combat any eventuality that might arise.

He called for having a detailed flood mapping and inundation map of each area to act accordingly.

ACS Kabra exhorted the concerned officers to have proper planning in place to deal effectively with natural disasters.

He also asked to ensure the mobilisation of resources in advance besides the issuance of flood duty charts.

The ACS asked for devising a mechanism for timely reporting to higher authorities in case of emergency so that proper rescue measures are taken timely.

During the meeting, Chief Engineer, Jal Shakti (I&FC) Kashmir and Jammu gave a presentation apprising of the works carried out so far by the department.

He also highlighted the plans of the department besides the contingency plan devised for the eventuality.

It was informed in the meeting that 24x7 control rooms had been established to monitor the gauge sites and duty roaster of officers.

Besides, contact numbers of all concerned officers have been prepared and circulated among all for information.

It was further informed that early warning from the Integrated Operational Flood Forecasting System (IOFS) should be issued for floods in major rivers of J&K.

IOFS is a web-GIS tool developed and run on forecasted weather data of IMD and generates warning bulletins on a predefined interval.

It will help provide early warnings on impending hydro-meteorological disasters to disaster risk managers and agencies, and the community at large.

It was revealed that the monitoring stations had been established upstream of rivers so that in case of heavy rainfall or cloudburst in the river basin, timely warnings could be issued.

The field staff has been geared up to remain alert for the impending flood event and take necessary measures as required.

The meeting was attended by the Special Secretary, Jal Shakti Department; Director Finance, Jal Shakti Department, J&K; Chief Engineer, PHE, I&FC, and RTIC Kashmir and Jammu, concerned Superintending Engineer, Executive Engineer, Flood Zonal Committee Kashmir region and Jammu region, Executive Engineer, JTFRP, Executive Engineer concerned while the outstation officers participated virtually.