HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Saturday issued directives to government departments to remain on high alert following incessant rains in several districts and the India Meterorological Department (IMD) warning of heavy rains for two days.
In a meeting with Chief Secretary A. Santhi Kumari, Revanth Reddy emphasised the importance of coordinated efforts by key departments, including revenue, municipal, electricity, and health, to prevent any untoward incidents.
Revanth Reddy called for special attention to low-lying areas that are prone to flooding. He directed that residents in these vulnerable regions be relocated to relief camps. He instructed that residents in areas downstream of reservoirs, where gates are being lifted, be alerted promptly to avoid any potential disasters.
Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari held a teleconference with senior police and government officials and collectors of all districts here on Saturday. She asked them to take all necessary precautions to avoid any loss of life or property.
The CS asked them to be prepared to deal with every eventuality effectively, including cloud bursts. She called for establishing control rooms in every district collector's office as well as in GHMC and the Secretariat. An officer should be specifically appointed to supervise and oversee overflowing streams, she said.
Santhi Kumari stated that district collectors should take a call on declaring holiday for schools in their respective areas. An advance plan for evacuating people from flood-affected areas and setting up resettlement camps should be prepared, she added.
Besides taking appropriate measures to prevent contamination of tanks, she said that bleaching and chlorination should be taken up to prevent spread or outbreak of diseases.
Director-General of Police Dr Jitender, principal secretaries M. Dana Kishore and Sandeep Kumar Sultania, secretaries, Rahul Bojja, Christina Chongthu and Lokesh Kumar, DG (fire services) Y. Nagireddy, GHMC commissioner Amrapali Kata and director of municipal administration V.P. Gautham participated in the teleconference.
Medical teams have been alerted and medicines have been kept ready in all primary health centres. She informed that currently NDRF teams were based in Hyderabad and Vijayawada and could be deployed to badly impacted areas.
Collectors of districts in the catchment areas of Godavari and Krishna rivers have been directed to be more alert.
She warned that local people may build mud pits in some places, which may lead to flooding in the low-lying areas. She asked officials from the irrigation department to prevent such activities.
The district collectors were directed to work in coordination with police, and officials from the irrigation, disaster management and panchayat raj departments. In addition to alerting the monsoon emergency teams in greater Hyderabad, they have also been asked to ensure that manholes are not opened.
