Ernakulam prepares for monsoon

KOCHI: As weathermen have forecast an excess monsoon, nearly 30 per cent increase this year, the district administration and other stakeholders have drawn out a massive monsoon disaster management plan. During a district-level review meeting chaired by industries minister E.P. Jayarajan on Monday, who is also in-charge of the district, authorities discussed and finalised steps to be taken to effectively address the surge in epidemics, natural calamities and other disasters during monsoon.

Police will form a special monsoon team to address calamities besides intensifying night patrolling. Twenty-four-hour control rooms have been opened in the district Collectorate and all taluks. Special focus will be given to regulate movement of dangerous chemicals like ammonia. Joint inspection by departments concerned will be conducted on a regular basis to check such vehicles are complying with safety norms.

The taluk-level disaster management activities will be coordinated by deputy collectors. Deputy Director of Education will be responsible for ensuring the safety of school buildings. In case of surge in water level necessitating opening shutters of any dam, the Dam Safety Authority, Irrigation Department and KSEB should contact the District Disaster Management Authority. Warning sign boards will be erected at waterfalls, backwaters and beaches.

It has been decided to prune trees along roadsides while KSEB has been asked to avoid accidents caused by snapped electric lines. Coastal areas vulnerable for sea erosion and buildings suitable for opening relief camps will be identified by the coastal police and tahsildars.

The district collector has sought assistance of Rs 10 lakh to construct temporary sea wall using sandbags to combat sea erosion in Chellanam. High speed boats will be made available to rescue fishermen in distress. Service of the 102 ambulance service, which is already functional in the district, will be augmented.

Sanitation drive from June 5

 

An intensive pre-monsoon sanitation campaign will be launched in Ernakulam district on June 5, World Environment Day, said Industries Minister E.P Jayarajan, who is in-charge of the district. While attending a review meeting on monsoon disaster management plans, the minister said that ward level committees should ensure that there is no water logging in any part of the district.

“Sanitation campaign will be carried out with massive public support and special focus will be given to hygiene of migrant labour camps. Educational institutions, government offices and other employment centres should initiate sanitation campaigns. The ward level committee members should make household visits to create awareness on hygiene,” he said.

Health department should ensure enough stock of medicines in dispensaries and stressed the need to have proper hygiene in colonies. “Since colonies are highly vulnerable to infectious disease outbreak, health officials should take extra care for disease prevention.”

In the meeting attended by civic body chiefs, officials and people’s representatives, Kochi Mayor Soumini Jain said that roads leading to the solid waste treatment plant at Brahmapuram will be repaired at a cost of Rs 75-80 lakh.  She also sought the government’s approval for the experimental spraying of new anti-mosquito lotion, which has been found very effective.

MLA designates P.T. Thomas, Hibi Eden, K.J. Maxi, district panchayat president Asha Sanil, ADM M.C. Lathika, Fort Kochi sub collector S. Suhas, City Police Commissioner M.P. Dinesh and other top officials of various departments attended the meeting.