‘Revive VDMCs to respond to disaster’

TURA, JUNE 12: On the backdrop of an advisory from Indian Meteorological Department of heavy rainfall that may lead to floods in Garo hills, Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma stressed on the need to revive the Village Disaster Management Committees (VDMCs) and have mock drills with community involvement.

During the meeting with the West Garo hills district administration and line departments on Friday at Tura circuit house, Sangma said, “Every block should have such mock drills in the next 60 days.”

Sangma held the meeting to review the level of preparedness in view of the recent advisory from Indian Meteorological department for eventuality of floods in the region.

Meghalaya Sports & Youth affairs minister  Zenith Sangma, parliamentary secretaries Brigady N Marak, Cherak W Momin, Noverfield R Marak and Sengnam Marak, GHADC CEM Alphonse A Sangma and other MDCs were also present at the review meeting.

After hearing the situation report of the district briefed by the West Garo hills deputy commissioner Pravin Bakshi, Sangma stressed the need for sensitizing the people as community response is very crucial in times of disaster.

Sangma also asked the district administration to inform the elected representative and traditional heads whenever disasters occur so that timely response can be given from their end. He also called for sensitizing the people in the form of short-skit.

Sangma underscored the need to revive the Village Disaster Management Committees (VDMCs) and have mock drills with community involvement. “Every block should have such mock drills in the next 60 days”, he said.

In view of the repeated incidents of earthquake and given the background of 1897 earthquake, Sangma was of the view that there was a need to look at disasters from seismic perspective beyond floods and landslides.

Referring to the erratic weather conditions prevailing in the last few months, Sangma said that concerned departments like agriculture and allied departments should have proper contingency plan in place and stressed the need to have buffer stock of seeds and adopt varieties for both drought and flood-like situations.

Earlier Bakshi, while briefing the chief minister on the state of preparedness in the district, informed that all Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs) were ready to be functional during emergencies, adding that so far there has been no report of any floods or landslides or damages from any part of the district except for the report of rising water level in Selsella block.- By Our Reporter