Shimla, June 3
Although the situation is not alarming, but the state government has requested the Centre to ask the Chinese authorities to remove the existing blockade on the Parechu river so that there is easy flow of water.
This was stated by the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, while speaking at a state-level programme of the Disaster Management Committee here today. “Regular monitoring of the water level in the Sutlej was being carried out and the people residing in the area were being warned of the effects of high water level,” he said. Precautionary measures had been taken to ensure that lives and property of the people was safe, he added.
“Although there is no immediate threat of floods, the satellite picture confirms existence of a water body, which cannot be taken lightly,” he said. He said, “Based on the past experience, the government has taken all precautionary steps to meet any challenge like breach in the artificial lake etc.”
He said the HP Relief Manual was being reviewed and updated to fit into emerging needs. He added that disaster management was being taught in educational institutions to prepare young minds about any such emergencies.
“In order to cover the left-out issues, the government was incorporating necessary amendments so that timely relief and rehabilitation package can be disbursed,” he said. He added the Department of Relief and Rehabilitation had been re-designated as the Relief, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Department.
He said the government had constituted the State Crisis Management Group and all Deputy Commissioners had been asked to prepare district-level disaster management committees.
He said the government had ordered a special girdawri to assess the extent of damage to crops due to drought as 10 out of the 12 districts had been affected due to low rainfall. He added that essential commodities were being provided to people through fair-price shops and the administration had been directed to keep a check on hoarding by traders.
He emphasised the need for construction of buildings with earthquake resistant material as large portions of the state fell in the seismic zone.
