Patiala DC reviews flood preparedness measures

Ahead of the monsoon season, the district administration today held a meeting to discuss flood preparedness measures. Patiala has, in recent year, experienced floods as several water bodies, including Ghaggar, Tangri, Markanda, Vadi Nadi, Chotti Nadi, Jhambo Choa, Sirhind Choa and other drains, flow through the length and breadth of the district.

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At the high-level meeting, Deputy Commissioner Preeti Yadav directed all SDMs to conduct on-ground inspections of vulnerable and critical points along the water bodies and assess the status of ongoing and required flood protection works.

Yadav emphasised the need to identify and monitor areas that were affected by floods in recent years. She instructed the Drainage and Rural Development Departments to immediately start procurement of empty sandbags, iron wiring nets and bamboo fencing materials, which can be used on an urgent basis to plug any potential breaches during high-flow events.

The Drainage Department was directed to ensure that all flood protection works are completed in a time-bound manner and that vulnerable areas were regularly monitored. The Health and Animal Husbandry Departments were asked to keep Quick Response Teams (QRTs) and Animal Rescue Teams (ARTs) on standby.

The DC also instructed all Executive Engineers of various departments to submit safety certification reports for bridges and roads. She reviewed flood preparedness measures within the Patiala Development Authority (PDA) areas, specifically enquiring about arrangements in Urban Estate and around the Chinar Bagh locality.

Also, the operational status of flood control rooms was checked and all departments concerned were asked to ensure coordination with their respective line departments.

The meeting was attended by ADCs Isha Singal and Navreet Kaur Sekhon, ACA PDA Jashanpreet Kaur Gill, SP City Palwinder Singh Cheema and officers from all departments concerned.