Brace for 30 per cent excess rainfall in Kerala

KOCHI: The Meteorological Department has predicted rains 30 percent in excess than previous years during this monsoon. So the government departments and agencies have upped the vigil this year and two meetings, one of district collectors and one of heads of departments, were held by the State Relief Commissioner early last month in which steps to be taken were identified and some of them implemented. The state Chief Secretary had addressed both meetings.

Monsoon is the time when most of natural calamities occur in Kerala due to flooding, landslides and sea erosion. As a first step the Relief Commissioner has provided those who attended the two meetings with the list of villages and other areas susceptible to flooding and landslides. It also says that strong winds are possible in this season. Kuttanad and Kol lands in Thrissur have been set apart with special strategy. Opening of shutters of dams has been identified as an important area.

It is after three years that monsoon is forecast above normal. Hence the heads have been advised to undertake a focused drive to conserve as much water as possible by resurrecting traditional water harvesting sources and creating minor check dams with local materials.

All district collectors have been advised to operationalise District Emergency Operation Centre (DEOC) with the facilities and standards as laid out in the Handbook on Disaster Management. Every official shall have a copy of the book where details of emergency response is listed. Staff of Revenue and Police with VHF Radio and Fire and Rescue shall be posted in the DEOC on a shift basis round the clock.

Agriculture, Irrigation and Health shall designate one officer on 24 hour duty at DEOC on shift basis. The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Chairman will establish the DEOC. All urban local bodies have been advised to prune trees and branches of trees that hang dangerously and owners of private properties will be held responsible on trees in their compounds.

If a tree has to be culled, a committee headed by the local body chairperson has to certify it to that effect. The Emergency Support Functions Plan as laid out in the Handbook on Disaster Management should be activated in the time of a calamity. Formats for nominating nodal officers, reporting human resources and machinery available for crisis management are available in the handbook. A list of equipment and resources available are on the Indian Disaster Resources Network website.

The meetings also specifically instructed whom to be given warning messages including SMS in times of calamity. Police should immediately report all petro-chemical tanker lorry accidents to state DM control room. DDMA shall identify temporary shelters in hazard prone villages.

Irrigation Department should take care of sea erosion and maintenance of sea walls. Coastal police too should report sea erosion prone areas. Sand bags and water draining pumps shall be made available wherever required especially for flooding. Animal Husbandry Department shall take care of domesticated animals.
Fisheries and Ports departments to act in case search and rescue in sea in tandem with Coast Guard and Coastal Police.

Health Department shall mobilize Asha workers and summon sufficient medicines and workforce to prevent epidemic outbreak and provide medical care. Department of Civil Supplies, Supplyco and Consumerfed take care of food aspect. DTPC plants warning signals at bathing ghats, rivulets, hills and other such sites. Quarry blasting will be restricted if rain does not abate. Warning signals on dam opening too will be given.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) shall be pre-positioned at Thrissur Civil Defense Institute (CDI) under the control of the Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management. All District Collectors shall be provided with '50 lakh as advance for relief.