DC tells officials to keep mobiles switched on

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 21

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Pradeep Kumar Agrawal on Thursday reviewed anti-flood arrangements in the district.

Chairing a high-level meeting of all departments at the Bachat Bhawan here, the DC instructed the officials to constantly coordinate with each other via a WhatsApp group to closely monitor the situations in the monsoon season.

He ordered the officials to keep their mobiles switched on round the clock. He said any kind of indiscipline would not be tolerated.

Agrawal told the officials that as per the Meteorological Department, heavy rain is expected in several parts of the state during the monsoon season. He expressed satisfaction when informed by the officials that they had started making arrangements to deal with any kind of situation.

He ordered the sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) to install wireless public address system in one vehicle to alert people in case of floods. He also asked the NDRF and Army officials to take the stock of sensitive places along with administration teams before the monsoon season starts.

He stated that the SDMs would ensure working of the flood control rooms round the clock and asked them to depute employees in shifts there. The DC told the Executive Engineer, Drainage, to keep a close vigil on all spots which were identified as sensitive during inspections. He will also monitor the water level in the Sutlej and will give information regularly, the DC added.

The irrigation officials will ensure cleanliness of distributaries to save crops from floods. The Municipal Commissioner, executive officers and the Deputy Director, Local Bodies, will have the responsibility of cleaning drains.

The Deputy Commissioner asked the SDMs to make adequate arrangements to meet any sort of situation. A sufficient number of boats, oars, life-saving jackets, motor engines, sandbags, wireless system, workers, machinery and tarpaulins should be ensured.

ADC Jagraon Neeru Katyal Gupta, ADC Khanna Ajay Sood and heads of departments were present at the meeting.