A meeting convened by the government here on Tuesday to review the preparedness for this year’s monsoon decided to take up a focused drive for water conservation, along with disaster management and mitigation activities.
Based on the assessment of an above normal monsoon after three years, the meeting resolved to create new farm ponds and minor check-dams and clean and repair existing ponds and permanent freshwater sources.
It decided to take up the projects under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act for the purpose.
The meeting chaired by Chief Secretary S.M. Vijayanand was informed that the rainfall from June to September would be above normal, implying the probability of floods and landslips in susceptible villages. Steps would be taken to prepare for flooding in Kuttanad and the Kole lands in Thrissur and mitigate the impact of coastal erosion and strong winds during the monsoon season.
Relief fund
District Collectors would be provided with Rs.50 lakh as advance from the State Disaster Relief Fund for flood disaster response and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) asked to identify temporary shelters in hazard-prone villages.
The meeting resolved to equip government hospitals and healthcare centres to tackle wet period epidemics and provide emergency medical care for victims of natural calamities.
