Notwithstanding the predictions for a normal monsoon this year, the Cuttack district administration is gearing up to meet any eventuality as the fear of flood fury always looms large in many riverside villages of the district.
looking at the heavy damages caused by the swelled rivers in the district every year, the administration on Tuesday took stock of the situation at a natural calamity preparatory meeting chaired by acting Collector BP Sarangi.
The meeting was attended, among others, by some MlAs of the district, Zilla Parishad members and many officials of all line departments, including the local civic body commissioner and hospital superintendent.
This year, the administration has identified about 31 weak and vulnerable points on the embankments of Mahandi and its tributaries like Kathajodi, Kuakhai, Kandal and Devi.
At least 10 such points are located in the Prachi irrigation division alone, which pose great threats to vast areas under Barang, Athagarh, Banki, Kantapada, Niali and Cuttack Sadar blocks.
Similarly, the Mahanadi north division has six weak points, south has four, Khurda irrigation division has nine and Kendrapara irrigation division has two weak and vulnerable points in the embankments, sources said.
The meeting called upon the heads of all irrigation divisions in the district to repair the vulnerable points at the river embankments on a war footing so as to complete the works by June 15. There were over hundred vulnerable points identified in the district with breaches formed at several places during last year’s floods.
All the block headquarters have been asked to remain equipped with sufficient food items, kerosene, dry foods and fodder to meet any eventuality during floods along with powerboats and country boats to evacuate the marooned people.
The food and civil supplies department has been asked to store 7550 quintals of rice and 9700 litres of kerosene at its disposal to meet any eventuality during the floods.
The district now has 20 powerboats and 156 country boats against a requirement of 66 powerboats and 375 country boats. The meeting decided to request the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) to provide 46 more power boats and 219 country boats to the district.
At least 380 school buildings, high rise buildings and pucca houses have been identified to serve as shelter places all over the district to rehabilitate the evacuees during the flood, the meeting was informed.