Mangaluru: With the southwest monsoon expected to hit Kerala on June 4, the Dakshina Kannada district administration has ramped up its preparedness efforts. Under the District Disaster Management Authority, repairs have been sanctioned for 91 school buildings and 137 anganwadi centres.
Funds Allocated for Repairs
Deputy Commissioner Darshan H V announced that Rs 2.5 crore has been released for anganwadi centres and Rs 1.5 crore for school buildings. The panchayat raj engineering (PRE) department will execute the repair works. Additional funds will be provided if more repairs are needed in schools, hospitals, and anganwadi centres. Departments have been instructed not to use dilapidated buildings, while the education and women and child development departments must identify structures with cracks. PRE engineers will assess such buildings and submit feasibility reports.
Relief Centres and Hazard Mitigation
The administration has identified 115 relief centres and directed officials to keep them ready. Authorities will identify and remove dangerous tree branches and electrical wires near schools and anganwadis in coordination with the forest department and Mescom. The district has identified 88 landslide-prone locations, with mitigation works underway at several sites. Flood-prone areas have been mapped, and warning signboards will be installed in vulnerable stretches, including NH-169 and NH-275. Residents in flood- and landslide-prone regions are advised to move to relief centres or safer locations during Red Alert periods.
Response Teams and Equipment
A 25-member NDRF team will be stationed in Puttur taluk, and a 10-member SDRF team in Subrahmanya. The administration has kept 28 rescue boats, chainsaws, life jackets, lifebuoys, earthmovers, tippers, and cranes on standby. Departments including PWD, PRED, Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited, National Highways Authority of India, and rural water supply have been directed to position personnel and machinery in vulnerable locations. Incident commanders have been appointed in all 60 wards of Mangaluru City Corporation, gram panchayats, and urban local bodies. A 24x7 helpline will operate for the next three months to receive grievances. Warning boards will be placed near unsafe bridges, culverts, and accident-prone stretches.
Health and Public Safety
The health department has been asked to intensify awareness campaigns to prevent mosquito breeding and check diseases such as dengue and chikungunya, and to curb water- and vector-borne diseases. Tourists and the public are advised to avoid trekking routes, riverbanks, and seashores during adverse weather. Departments must maintain records of tourists undertaking treks and their return.
