District Development Commissioner Kathua Ajay Singh Jamwal convened a meeting to review Anti-Flood Measures in the district at Conference Hall in Mini Secretariat Complex in Kathua today.ASP Kathua Nisar Khan, ADDC Kathua Manmohan Singh, ACR, ACD, SDM Billawar, SDM Basohli, SDM Hiranagar, SE RTIC, SE Flood, XEN MICD, XEN Flood Control, XEN PHE, XEN PWD, XEN PDD, XEN Irrigation, Tehsidar’s, BDO’s and representatives of Army, CRPF, Education, UBDC, Food & Supply, Municipalities, Civil Defence attended the meeting.A preparedness cum rescue plan was discussed in the meeting wherein DDC called for coordination between the departments and other agencies to safeguard the precious lives and property.Under the plan a control room will be set up from 1st July 2015 at District Police Lines along with a parallel Sub-Control Room at the Office of Executive Engineer Flood Control, Division Kathua to monitor the situation and for timely coordinated action.
To ensure timely communication of the instructions and advisories police department was asked to keep ready wireless sets at six flood prone areas viz Panjtirathi-Billawar, Jakhol, Flood Control Gauge Reader Hut near National highway Rajbagh Bridge, Mukhandpur, Korepunnu and Keerian Gandyal.
Educational institutions like schools and colleges and Panchayat Ghars have been identified in Kathua and Hiranagar town to accommodate evacuated people if required. The officers of Army, CRPF and Civil Defence were directed to keep their men and machinery ready including tents, sand bags, lantern, petromax, dozer, ropes and life jackets besides stretchers, emergency lights, Shovels and Blankets whereas department of mechanical irrigation construction division Jammu will provide dewatering pumps for identified low lying areas in the town.
Irrigation and RTIC Upper Division was directed to ensure clearance of all drainage culvert/drainage siphon of Kathua canal and to intimate gauge/ discharge of Ujh River to main control room and sub control room. The authorities of Upper Bari Douba Canal( UBDC) at Gurdaspur were directed to intimate the daily discharge of Ravi River at Madhopur Barrage to the control rooms.Municipalities and R&B Department were directed to ensure clearance of all drains well in advance in the town to avoid any water blockage during rains.