Expressing deep condolence over the death of a large number of people in the northern parts of the country and Nepal, Chief Minister Raghubar Das has sought information from all Deputy Commissioners (DC) of the State about any sort of loss in Jharkhand. The CM said here on Saturday that the people of Jharkhand were with the residents of Nepal and Bihar in their moment of grief.
Das also chaired a pre-scheduled meeting of the Disaster Management department just after the earthquake that rocked Jharkhand too. Measuring about 5 points on the Richter scale, the earthquake spread panic in the State, though there was no report of loss of property and life till the time of filing of this report.
At the review meeting, the CM stressed on the need of integrating civil security with the disaster management department. He asked the officials to train youth in all districts and instructed the DCs to form teams for the purpose and start the training at the earliest.
Das said that more and more people should be added with the civil security network and people doing good work in the field must be felicitated by the Government.
He said that a separate force of people attached to civil security will be formed and its services can be availed of on particular occasions.
The CM also said that the problem of water also comes under a kind of disaster and therefore, it must be ensured that the State does not encounter the problem of scarcity of water. He asked the officials to give special attention to water scarce areas such as Palamu and Garhwa and said that hand pumps, water tankers must be arranged for the people on time.
Das said that arrangements must be made for collection of water in reservoirs ahead of rain. He asked the officials to desilt ponds and dams across the State and also the three big dams of Ranchi. The CM also instructed the officials to arrange for lift irrigation and make district-wise plans for the purpose.
"Water management is also a part of disaster management, so the disaster management department must give full cooperation in the work. Secondly, lightning is a big problem in the State, so the compensation must be given to the victims' kin at the earliest. A complaint number should also be made available where the people can get their problems registered," he said.
CS Rajiv Gauba, Principal Secretary to CM Sanjay Kumar, Principal Secretary of Water Resources Department Sukhdeo Singh, Secretary for Rural Development AP Singh, Secretary to CM Sunil Barnwal, Secretary for Agriculture NM Kulkarni, Secretary for Urban Development AK Singh, Secretary for Disaster Management Samson Soy and other senior officials were present at the meeting.