Madikeri MLA holds officials to account for any lapses

Madikeri: Madikeri MLA Mantar Gowda has warned of stringent action in case of lapses during disaster management relief and rescue works.Heading the taluk-level Disaster Management Review meeting in Kushalnagar, he said that officials will be held responsible in case of any lapses during disaster management work.Keeping in mind the natural disaster situation that occurred during 2018-19, he instructed the officials to be vigilant and make necessary preparations to prevent disaster in vulnerable regions across every gram panchayat. He instructed officials to focus on low-lying areas and asked officials to issue notices to residents living in vulnerable regions and dilapidated houses to move to safer places. “Work needs to be done to create awareness among the citizens about the weather forecast,” he added.He instructed the concerned to take steps to relocate residents living in flood-prone areas and asked officials to submit daily reports during incessant rainfall. He, meanwhile, advised the officials to track weather forecasts while declaring holidays for schools and colleges and forbade them from declaring holidays unnecessarily. He asked the officials to provide him with a comprehensive report on the purchase of tarpaulins required for the monsoon season even as he instructed them to identify houses that are prone to collapse and take corrective measures. He ordered the completion of all relief works, including maintenance of drains, pruning of dangerous trees and road repairs, before June 16. He also instructed officials to keep ready relief centres in required vulnerable zones.“Steps must be taken to make sure that residents, who have been provided rehabilitation houses from the govt, must not shift to their old houses. Such old houses in vulnerable regions must be taken over by the govt,” he said. All taluk-level officials were present during the meeting.