State government decides to speed up pre-monsoon arrangements
Regional level action plans will be prepared in the districts by May 20, Mr. Rajan said. Training sessions are planned for the prompt activation of the Incident Response Systems at the district and taluk levels. The meeting decided to update the lists of people inhabiting locations vulnerable to disasters.
Friday's meeting also directed government departments to make sure that measures prescribed in the Orange Book of Disaster Management published by the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) have been adopted ahead of the monsoon. The updated version of this document is expected to be published by May 25.
Relief camps
Local bodies have been directed to publish details of the buildings identified for opening relief camps. A Tribal Hamlet Disaster Management Plan will be drafted as part of the arrangements for the monsoon season. As part of the measures, awareness programmes will be held in regions susceptible to landslips. Warnings will be displayed in tourist locations, the government said.
Directions have also been issued for closely monitoring water levels in the reservoirs in the State and ensuring that shutters and spillways in dams are operational.
Special district-level reviews will be held in all districts in the first weeks of June, July, August and September. These meetings will be chaired by either the Minister holding the charge of the district or the District Collector concerned.
Sanitation works
Local self-government institutions have been directed to launch pre-monsoon sanitation works and mosquito eradication measures. They have also been directed to ensure that drains and canals, culverts are cleared of waste and debris before the rainfall strengthens over the State.
Equipment needed for rescue and relief operations will be stocked in all local bodies. The District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMA) will sanction the funds necessary for the purchasing the equipment prescribed by the KSDMA. Grama panchayats will be sanctioned ₹1 lakh, municipalities ₹ 3 lakh and Corporations ₹5 lakh.
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