CM Reviews Cyclone Preparedness with Minister, CS

CM Reviews Cyclone Preparedness with Minister, CS

Hyderabad, Oct 10 (INN): Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Thursday reviewed the progress of Phailin cyclone, preparedness and action being initiated by various departments with Revenue Minister N Raghuveera Reddy and Chief Secretary Dr P K Mohanty.

The Chief Minister directed the Chief Secretary to instruct all officials to take all precautionary measures to protect the life and property of the people of the likely-to-be affected districts. He said people and cattle from all the low lying and vulnerable areas should be shifted as and when necessary to safer places.

On Chief Minister’s directions, the Chief Secretary and Disaster Management Commissioner Dr T Radha along with other top officials held a video conference with Collectors of nine districts at Secretariat and reviewed about the preparedness for the cyclone. The Chief Secretary told the Collectors of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Guntur, Krishna, Prakasam and Nellore districts that as per the latest IMD Bulletin today, the cyclonic storm, PHAILIN over East Central Bay of Bengal moved slightly north-westwards. It intensified further and lay centered at 0530 hrs IST today, the 10th October 2013 as cyclonic storm near latitude 14.5 degree North and longitude 91.5 degree East, about 850 km southeast of Paradip, 900km east-south-east of Kalingapatnam and 950 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam.

The system would intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during next 12 hours. It would continue to move northwestwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coast between Kalingapatnam and Paradip by the night of 12th October, 2013 as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 175-185 kmph. Due to this cyclone, the three North Coastal districts of A.P. i.e. Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam are likely to experience very high rainfall from tomorrow evening i.e. on 11.10.2013 onwards and other coastal districts would also receive heavy rainfall. Opening of control rooms: A Round the clock Control Room was already opened in Revenue (DM) Department in the Secretariat premises and the Telephone No. is 040-23456005/23451043 Fax- 040-23451819.

The District Collectors of all the nine Coastal Districts were alerted regarding the Phailin cyclone and instructed to open control rooms at district/divisional and Mandal level with phone/mobile telephone/wireless sets and ham radio sets with operators. The details of thetelephone numbers of Control Rooms and communication plan has to be given to Government as well as to media for wide publicity.

Following are the details of the control room numbers opened in the districts. Srikakulam- 0894-2240557/ 9652838191; Visakhapatnam-1800425002; Vizianagaram-Toll Free: 1077/0892-2236947; East Godavari-0884-2365506; West Godavari – 0881230617; Krishna -086722525.Toll Free–1077; Guntur – 08632345103/08632234990 and Nellore -08612331477. Positioning of Manpower: The Collectors were instructed to position manpower from Revenue Department including Deputy Collectors/RDOs/Tahsildars Municipalities, Panchayat Raj Departments and other Departments by calling them back from the strike and immediately report for duty in exigencies. Disaster Management Cells in the Collectorates have to be activated by positioning the staff and equipment.

The Collectors have been requested to appoint senior district level officers as Supervisory Officers for each Mandal. The names of these Supervisory Officers and their mobile numbers have to be provided to the Government. Wherever necessary Supervisory Officers may also be appointed for group of villages. These Supervisory Officers have to be trained in Disaster Management and Relief operations. Positioning of vehicles: The Collectors were instructed to pool all Government vehicles available with the departments and private vehicles wherever necessary. Arrangements have to be made regarding availability of drivers and fuel (diesel and petrol). These vehicles have to be requisitioned and made available for relief operations.

The following State Level Supervisory Officers have been appointed: BMD Ekka (Srikakulam); Rajat Kumar (Vizianagaram); Sanjay Kumar (Visakhapatnam); M.Ravichandra (Eest Godavari); Sanjay Jaju (West Godavari), BR Meena (Krishna); BVenkatesham (Guntur); R Karikal Valaven (Prakasam) and B Rajasekhar (Nellore). All these Special Officers of all Coastal Districts were instructed to proceed to the districts allotted to them. In case any of the above officers is not available alternate arrangements to post senior officers will be made. Stocking of Essential Commodities:

All the District Collectors were instructed to make available adequate quantities of rice, kerosene, drinking water sachets at all Civil Supplies stock points, MLS points and other points, in advance. District Collectors were instructed to direct the electricity department to ensure uninterrupted power supply in order to fill up over head water tanks belonging to RWS & municipalities before the cyclone strikes the coast. Further all the drinking water supplies have to be chlorinated to prevent contamination. Provision of pumps and repairs to breaches: District Collectors were instructed to direct the Engineers of the Irrigation Department to repair / strengthen river and tank bunds to avoid flooding and also to arrange for heavy duty pumps to drain out flood water wherever necessary.

They were also requested to keep sufficient number of sand bags ready in case of breaches to river and tanks. Relief Camps: Identify low laying areas, arrange for shifting of people identify sites for relief camps / relief shelters and provide names and telephone numbers of officers incharge of camps. Provide flood lights, food, drinking water, generator and medical teams at such camps. R&B Department: R&B Department to arrange for power saw etc. Medical Teams: Medical teams shall be arranged with medicines. Pregnant women who are likely to deliver babies during this week shall be identified and taken to safer places, if there is need. Drawal of funds from TR-27: Collectors of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam may draw funds under TR-27 for relief operations and submit daily reports on such drawals and expenditure to Government.