Himachal CM reviews monsoon situation; Directs to open blocked roads on priority

Shimla, August 8, 2017: A review meeting of monsoon was held here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh. Chief Minister directed to activate the field staff and mechanism so that there is smooth flow of traffic during apple season.

Chief Minister said that there should be proper and immediate dissemination of warning and alerts and all the block roads to be reopened on war footing and alternate routes to be operationalized with continues monitoring. He said that IPH water pipe lines should be restored in coordination whenever any damage is caused so that there would be no inconvenience to general public.

He directed Agriculture and Horticulture departments to access the loss and damage due to heavy rains. He said that all department should prepare and update memorandum of losses so that same is complied at State level and could be sent timely to the Central Government. He directed Health department to conduct special drive for prevention of epidemics and water borne diseases and keep on reviewing any such incidence and take corrective measures immediately.

Shri Virbhadra Singh directed to maintain inventory of search and rescue equipments and train manpower. He said that quick response teams (QRT) should be made operational in all the districts. He said that all the Deputy Commissioners should ensure that all roads are kept open and assess the damage to the public and private property. He said that tourist and general public should be stopped at district headquarters whenever any major road is blocked and no chaos to be created on highways.

Chief Minister said that all hydel power project authorities should ensure that no water should be released from reservoirs without prior warning. He said that they should ensure proper dissemination of warning and alerts at least 24 hours before releasing of water from dams and reservoirs. He said that Rs. 64 crore had been released to Deputy Commissioners and stakeholders departments such as PWD, IPH, Electricity etc. for immediate restoration work and more funds would be provided on need basis.

Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue & Disaster Management) Shri Tarun Sridhar apprised the rain fall data from 1st August to 7thAugust,2017 which have been above 55 per cent normal in the week. He said that although the overall rainfall is deficient by minus 6 per cent but the pattern is very erratic and disastrous which has led to loss of lives and property in the state.

He informed that during monsoon season, total 173 deaths occurred out of which 20 deaths are due to flash floods, landslides and cloud burst etc. and remaining 153 deaths due to road accidents etc. He said that 124 animals i.e. sheeps, goats, cows, buffalos and horses etc. died. Damage to road network including state roads, district roads and rural roads, besides bridges and culverts has been assessed to Rs. 291 crore, whereas damage to water and irrigation schemes has been assessed to Rs. 80 crore and rupees three crore to the electricity infrastructure. He said that total damage and loss has been assessed to Rs. 380 crores.

He said that 280 roads were damaged and blocked during last 2-3 days out of which 200 would be opened today. He said that about 740 schemes of IPH have been damaged out of which 540 have been restored.

Director Horticulture informed that apple transportation is smooth and more than 19 lakh apple boxes have been sent to various markets from the state.

The representative from IMD briefed about the rainfall in the state and mentioned that there may be heavy rainfall in next five days with very heavy rains in isolated places. He was directed to disseminate nowcast on daily basis.

Chief Secretary Shri V.C.Pharka, DG(P) Shri Somesh Goel, DG, Civil Defence and Home Guards Shri S.R.Mardi, Principal Advisor to Chief Minister Shri T.G.Negi, Secretary Health Shri Prabodh Saxena, Commissioner MC Shri G.C.Negi, Special Secretary Revenue and DM Shri D.D.Sharma, Special Secretary PWD, IPH, Director Animal Husbandry and Agriculture and other senior officers were present in the meeting.