CM puts officials on alert for flood, drought situations

Patna: Amid forecasts of fluctuating monsoon rainfall between June and Sept, CM Samrat Choudhary on Thursday asked officials concerned to remain on high alert and intensify preparations to tackle possible flood and drought situations.Reviewing the state’s preparedness at a meeting held at the Samvad auditorium in the chief minister’s secretariat, Samrat asked officials and engineers of all departments concerned to take preventive measures in advance and ensure people do not suffer during any natural calamity.“All the officials and district magistrates should remain on high alert taking into account both the flood and drought conditions that might befall the people of the state. Ensure that the disaster does not become misfortune for them,” Samrat said.District magistrates and senior police officers from across the state joined the meeting through videoconferencing.Officials of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), during a presentation, said Bihar was likely to witness uneven rainfall during the monsoon season. According to the forecast, June and July may receive below-normal rainfall, Aug is expected to record normal rainfall, while Sept may again witness below-normal rain. The IMD also indicated south Bihar could receive less rainfall than normal, while north Bihar is expected to receive normal rainfall.Samrat asked officials to strengthen embankment protection in flood-prone districts and complete all preparedness-related schemes by May 31. He said people affected by floods and drought had the first right over state resources and instructed officials to cooperate fully with citizens during emergencies.He also asked the disaster management department to continuously monitor the situation and ensure timely availability of drinking water, dry cattle fodder and relief materials.Disaster management department principal secretary Santosh Kumar Mall informed the meeting that all district magistrates had been issued guidelines regarding mobilisation of boats, polythene sheets, medicines, cattle fodder, relief centres, community kitchens and dry ration supplies.Disaster management authority vice-chairman Uday Kant Mishra said an alert mechanism had also been put in place to warn people about possible flood and drought conditions.Deputy chief ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav, along with other ministers, attended the review meeting.