Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan today convened a meeting to review disaster management preparedness in the Kashmir division including in Leh and Kargil as well.Additional Commissioner Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Director School Education, Commissioner SMC, Director Urban Local Bodies, Director Disaster Management, Chief Engineer UEED, Superintending Engineers and Executive Engineers from R&B, PDD, PHE, I&FC, Deputy Director CS&CA, SSP telecom, SSP Traffic, Joint Director Fire & Emergency Services, SP Control room, Deputy Commandant SDRF, Deputy Director Planning, Assistant Commissioner Revenue and other concerned officers attended the meeting
Deputy Commissioners of other Valley districts including Leh and Kargil participated in the meeting through video conferencing.The meeting was informed that Rs. 3 crore has been released to all Deputy Commissioners for procurement of blankets and other necessary items while as satellite phones are being installed in Srinagar, Pulwama, and Budgam for communication purposes in case of emergency situations.On the occasion, the Divisional Commissioner directed the Deputy Commissioners to prepare an inventory of resources, including men, machinery, and boats available from every Department in their respective districts with location of control room and details of village level committees within two days.He also directed them to identify 300 volunteers for disaster management training in their respective districts.
All the DCs were directed to identify locations for helipads, where helicopters can land in case of any eventuality for necessary evacuation and relief purposes.Khan directed Mechanical, Health, PHE, SMC, R&B, PDD, I&FC, SDRF, Fire & Emergency services and other concerned departments to provide information like details of dewatering pumps, number of doctors, ambulances, paramedical staff, water tankers, total water supply schemes, NGOs working for disaster management, food, gas and kerosene stock, district wise food stores, fair weather road information, availability of gensets, sand bags, regulating traffic in adverse weather conditions and details of volunteers by August 14 so that a comprehensive plan is formulated accordingly which will be presented before the Chief Minister on August 16, 2017. The meeting also discussed the preparedness to deal with possible adverse weather eventualities. Officials said the field staff needs to be proactive in identifying the vulnerable areas for natural disasters and appropriate measures be taken to avoid any damage during any eventuality.The Divisional Commissioner stressed on maintaining a close coordination among various departments so that effective response is ensured to deal with any calamity.