Secretary Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Farooq Ahmad Shah, chaired a meeting to review the progress of flood protection works under Flood Management Project Phase-I and Phase-II here today.The Secretary also took stock of the disaster preparedness in the backdrop of incessant rains that lashed the valley.Mr Shah called for initiating short and long-term measures to ensure effective flood management. He said a concerted drive would be launched to remove encroachments from the banks of rivers and tributaries to evade future flood threat.During the meeting, the Secretary was informed that during the recent incessant rains the department deployed 12.60 lakh sandbags to Flood Zonal Committees in Valley.The Secretary was also appraised about Flood Management Strategies and Plans, Status of ‘Priority works- comprehensive Flood management Plan on River Jhelum- Phase -I ‘and formulation of DPR-Phase-II.
While stressing upon the need for effective flood management strategies, the Secretary directed the officials for building an additional stock of Geo Sand filled bags and called for keeping a close vigil on the banks of rivers and nallahs through Flood Zonal Committees.He also directed officials that people should be informed about the flood situation from time to time through media, including social media so that rumors about flood threat can be curbed.The meeting also discussed the road map for flood management which includes dredging, training of manpower in a modernized way so to effectively rescue people at the time of floods.The Secretary directed the officials that encroachments on river banks should be removed at an earliest.The meeting was attended by Chief Engineers, SEs and officials from Irrigation and Flood Control Department and other concerned.