District Development Commissioner Poonch, Mohammad Aijaz Asad today convened a meeting to reviewed flood protection measures and service delivery mechanism here at a meeting of senior functionaries.The meeting was attended by ADDC, Hamid Sheikh, ADC, Dr. Basharat Hussain, ASP, Anwar-Ul-Haq, ACR, Bashir Lone, XEN R&B, XEN PMGSY, XEN IFC, Executive Engineers PWD(R&B), PHE, PDD, I&FC, AD, FCS&CA, I/C SDRF, Army representatives besides officials from other concerned departments.The DDC directed officials of Army, Disaster Management and Civil Defence to keep their men and machinery ready with tents, sand bags, life jackets and other rescue equipments. He asked them to make available sand bags at vulnerable locations especially upstream and downstream of S.K Bridge and Kalai Bridge and other populated locations as precautionary measures.The meeting discussed measures for protection at places prone to flood like Bela Potha, Bela Sanai, Fazalabad and Sailan in Tehsil Surankote, downstream of Kalai Bridge on the right Bank, Dingla, 1km area each of upstream and downstream of S.K Bridge, Batad Nala, Ajote, downstream of Batad covering Purani Poonch in Tehsil Haveli and main town and Chhajla in Tehsil Mendhar.Concerned departments informed that a total 32 JCBs, 1 Pick & Carry Crane and 2 BDAT have been kept on standby to deal with untoward situation.
Preparedness- cum-Rescue Plan was discussed and the DDC called for maintaining close coordination among different departments and agencies to safeguard precious lives in case of any eventuality during the rainy season.The meeting decided to establish District Disaster Management Group for timely coordination, while the DDC directed the department heads to conduct mock drills with agencies to stay prepared for any unforeseen eventuality.The Municipality and R&B Deptt was asked to ensure clearance of all drains in advance in the main markets to avoid water logging during monsoon.PDD was asked to take measures for preventing power supply disruption and keep alternate power lines ready in case of failure of main Line.The DDC also reviewed the medicine stock position in hospitals and asked the health department to issue advisories with respect to any epidemic and health issues.The CMO Poonch informed the meeting that 57 ambulances and 1 Mobile Medical Unit(MMU) have been put on task.It was decided that an Emergency Operation Centre(EOC) will be opened at DC Office which will function under the supervision of ADC.DDC Poonch also directed AD, FCS&CA to keep adequate ration in stores to meet emergent requirements. The provision of buffer stock in hilly and disaster prone areas should also be ensured in time, he directed.