In view of the floods and other natural calamities witnessed in several parts of Jammu and Kashmir last year, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness of various departments and agencies for dealing with disasters and emergencies during the forthcoming monsoon season.
The meeting was attended by senior Administrative Secretaries, Commandant SDRF, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu/Kashmir; IGP, Kashmir/Jammu; Chief Executive Officer ERA, Managing Director, JPDCL/KPDCL; Chief Engineer, Project Sampark/Beacon, besides all Deputy Commissioners who joined from their respective districts.
Emphasising the need for proactive planning and preparedness, the Chief Secretary directed the Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Department (DMRR&R), divisional administrations and district authorities to take all necessary preventive measures well in advance to minimise the loss of life and property in the event of floods, flash floods, landslides, cloudbursts and other natural disasters.
Drawing lessons from past experiences, Dulloo stressed that preparedness should not be limited to departmental arrangements alone but must be complemented by robust inter-agency coordination. He observed that effective coordination among departments, emergency responders and district administrations remains the key to successful disaster response, relief, restoration and rehabilitation efforts.
The Chief Secretary called for comprehensive mapping of vulnerable areas based on disaster risk profiles and topographical conditions. He directed the concerned authorities to identify hazard-prone locations and formulate mitigation strategies accordingly.
Underscoring the importance of safeguarding public infrastructure, Dulloo instructed departments to undertake safety audits of schools, hospitals and other high-footfall government buildings.
He further directed agencies including BRO, NHAI, PWD and other road construction organisations to ensure swift restoration of roads and connectivity during emergencies, noting that uninterrupted access is critical for rescue and relief operations.
The Chief Secretary also emphasised expeditious completion of all works related to permanent restoration of infrastructure damaged during previous disasters. He asked the Power Development Department to carry out detailed risk assessments of its assets and installations to minimise vulnerabilities and ensure uninterrupted services during adverse weather conditions.
During the meeting, the Administrative Secretaries, including the Additional Chief Secretary, Power Development Department, and Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works Department, presented detailed assessments of measures undertaken to protect critical infrastructure and accelerate restoration works damaged in earlier calamities.
Principal Secretary, DMRR&R, Chandraker Bharti informed the meeting that a series of review meetings had been conducted at various levels over the past several months to finalise preparedness measures in accordance with disaster management protocols. He stated that adequate funds have already been placed at the disposal of Deputy Commissioners for procurement of essential safety gear and emergency equipment.
Bharti further informed that fire safety audits of government infrastructure are currently underway and that the process of providing satellite phones to Sub-Divisional Magistrates and vulnerable tehsils is being taken up for completion shortly. He urged all District Magistrates to strictly adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures framed by the department and act in accordance with the Disaster Management Act to prevent encroachments on water bodies and natural drainage systems.
Commandant SDRF, Imtiyaz Hussain Mir, highlighted the need for strengthening SDRF units at the district level by equipping them with modern rescue equipment. He also advocated greater mobilisation of Civil Defence volunteers and enhancement of their remuneration in line with Government of India guidelines.
Earlier, the Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir gave detailed presentations on preparedness measures undertaken across their respective divisions. The presentations covered manpower deployment, machinery availability, contingency plans and mitigation works being carried out by departments including Irrigation and Flood Control, Public Works, Jal Shakti, Power Development, Rural Development, Health, Urban Development, Municipal Bodies and other stakeholder agencies.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, briefed the meeting on the operationalisation of flood control rooms, emergency reporting mechanisms, early warning systems, emergency response units and road clearance strategies developed by district administrations and concerned departments.
He also highlighted zoning and vulnerability mapping exercises, mock drills conducted by District Disaster Management Authorities, deployment of Aapda Mitras and Civil Defence volunteers, and regular updation of inventories on the India Disaster Resource Network (IDRN) portal.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, presented a detailed account of the administrative and engineering interventions being undertaken across the Valley to protect life and property. He informed the meeting that each district has designated a nodal officer to coordinate preparedness and response measures.
He also shared district-wise assessments of vulnerable villages, exposed populations, rescue centres, their holding capacities and the status of essential facilities available at these locations.
Garg further apprised the meeting of the elaborate arrangements being put in place for the safety and security of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra pilgrims, including the functioning of the Integrated Command and Control Centre at HMT, Srinagar, and deployment of specialised Mountain Rescue Teams along the pilgrimage routes.
Meanwhile Chief Executive Officer, ERA, Shreya Singhal, informed the meeting that work on the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) at Ompora, Budgam, is progressing rapidly and is nearing completion.
She stated that several supporting structures have already been completed and are ready for handover to DMRR&R for immediate utilisation. She added that the main EOC building is expected to be handed over by the end of July, enabling full operationalisation of the facility.
The Deputy Commissioners also presented district-specific preparedness measures and initiatives undertaken to strengthen local response capabilities and improve readiness for disaster management.
The Chief Engineers of Project Sampark and Beacon assured the meeting that all necessary arrangements have been put in place from their side to ensure uninterrupted connectivity and timely restoration of roads in the event of any weather-related disruptions.
Reiterating the administration's commitment towards safeguarding lives and property, the Chief Secretary directed all departments and district administrations to remain vigilant, maintain a high level of preparedness and ensure seamless coordination for an effective response to any eventuality during the monsoon season.