Rio for excavators in every district as Nagaland ‘prepares’ for monsoon

May 21, 2024 11 Views No Comment

Kohima, May 21 (MExN): Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today urged the Public Works Department (Roads and Bridges) to arrange excavators in every district in preparation for the upcoming monsoon season.

Engineering divisions in every district must arrange and keep an excavator handy through hiring or contributions from contractors or private parties to come to the rescue of the people for any untoward incidents during the monsoon, he said.

Presiding over a State-level monsoon preparedness meeting at CM’s Secretariat, Kohima, Rio, who is also the Chairman of Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), appealed to the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to clear all drainages, Hume pipes, and culverts to ensure the smooth flow of water and avert damages.

He also emphasised the necessity for all government departments to be prepared, given the unpredictable nature of Nagaland’s monsoon, adding that whether it brings excessive or insufficient rainfall, the consequences could be disastrous in either scenario.

CM Rio also stressed the need for funding for monsoon preparedness and said that the state should provide some funds for emergency situations to the district administration to ensure immediate relief to those affected by monsoon-related incidents and situations.

He also urged the Agriculture department to supply quality seeds and distribute seeds on time to the farmers and instructed the power department to be prepared for any unforeseen incidents.

As per the State DIPR, Rio expressed happiness over the department’s monsoon preparedness for the upcoming monsoon and urged all to pray for the best and also to be prepared for the worst.

Rio also instructed the Chief Secretary to have a video conference with all the districts and to have a meeting with him in the early part of June on the district preparedness for the upcoming monsoon season.

He further underscored the importance of coordination among all government departments in providing relief, addressing the aftermath of various diseases, and restoring normalcy.

At the district level, civil societies consistently step in to support the state government, playing a pivotal role in such situations, he said. Accordingly, during such coordination meetings, societies including women leaders should be invited, Rio said.

Minister PWD (R&B) G Kaito Aye, Minister of Health & Family Welfare P PaiwangKonyak, Food & Civil Supply, Legal Metrology K Tokugha Sukhalu, and Chief Secretary J Alam IAS also shared their concerns and requirements for the monsoon preparedness during the meeting.

Joint Chief Executive Officer NSDMA Jhonny Ruangmei gave a PowerPoint presentation on ‘Monitoring and Forecasting of Monsoon 2004’. The content, however, was not provided to the media.

The Department of PWD (R&B), CD & SDRE, Food & Civil Supplies, Health & Family Welfare, and NDRF submitted their infrastructure upkeep report and PowerPoint presentations on monsoon preparedness.