District Collectors can take call on declaring holiday to schools: Telangana CS

She asked the Collectors in the districts under the limits of low-lying areas of Krishna and Godavari Rivers to be on high alert. As chances of locals causing breaches to water bodies resulting in inundation of low-lying areas, the Irrigation department officials must be on vigil to prevent such breaches to water bodies.

Reviewing the situation with senior officials of the district Collectors here, she discussed the preventive steps to be taken as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted heavy rainfall on Sunday and Monday. The government machinery should be ready to deal with any emergency as several parts of Telangana and its borders are witnessing heavy rainfall.

Shanthi Kumari said certain areas were expected to witness cloud bursts and asked officials to set up control rooms at the Collector’s office, GHMC and Secretariat. An officer should be posted at the areas where rain water was flowing heavily from streams and rivers.

The Collectors must take an appropriate decision on declaring holiday to schools depending upon the rain situation in their respective districts. An action plan must be evolved in advance to shift the people to safe places or relief centres in case they were affected with rain water.

She advised officials to educate people on the precautionary measures to be taken in the wake of heavy rains and floods through various communication modes. Authorities must accord priority to ensure that the water tanks, which are the main source of drinking water in villages and cities, were not polluted, she said.

To prevent communicable diseases, the municipal officials must carry out chlorination and sprinkling of bleaching powder and the staff in the health centres should be on alert ensuring adequate stock of medicines. If prior information is given, the personnel of NDRF would be deployed to attend rescue operations in rain-affected areas.

Shanthi Kumari underlined the need for proper coordination between Irrigation, Panchayat Raj, Disaster Management and other wings to deal with any situation. In the city, necessary steps must be taken to prevent people from opening the overflowing manhole covers.

Director-General of Police Jitender said instructions were already issued to all the Police Commissioners and Superintendents of Police in districts to be on constant vigil and work in coordination with the district Collectors concerned apart from advising them to set up control rooms.