Madikeri: Kodagu Deputy Commissioner SJ Somashekar chaired a meeting of the disaster management authority to review preparations for the upcoming monsoon season. He directed officials to convene taluk-level task force meetings to implement precautionary measures in areas prone to floods and landslides.
Somashekar stated that heavy rainfall is anticipated in the district starting from the second week of June. “This time, the district has recorded less than 50% rainfall since January. However, as there is a possibility of increased rainfall during the monsoon, necessary precautionary measures need to be taken,” he said. He added that sensitive areas, including flood-affected and landslide-prone regions, have already been identified, and officials have been instructed to take special precautions in these zones.
He noted that nodal officers have already been assigned and directed officials to work in coordination. A task force meeting will be held at the taluk level under the leadership of MLAs, he added, asking officials to collect data on sensitive areas, prepare precautionary plans, and present them ahead of the meetings.
Somashekar also asked officials to provide the current status of schools, colleges, and government buildings. He instructed officials to set up helpline centers in all taluks and suggested that staff work in three shifts to ensure round-the-clock (24x7) operation during the monsoon. “Necessary precautionary measures should be taken as per the guidelines issued by the Geological Survey of India (GSI),” he said.
He further directed officials to undertake preparatory works, including pruning roadside trees and replacing faulty and dangerous electric poles, ahead of the monsoon. He suggested involving volunteers from NCC, NSS, the Red Cross, ex-servicemen, and others engaged in disaster management activities.
Kodagu SP Bindu Mani said the police department had already made necessary preparations for the monsoon. She said four teams had been formed and urged officials from all departments, including fire, forest, and electricity, to coordinate with local police stations. ZP CEO Anand Prakash Meena and other district administration officials were present at the meeting.
