Uttara Kannada DC directs all departments to stay on high alert ahead of monsoon

Karwar, May 17: (Bhatkallys News Bureau) With the southwest monsoon approaching, Uttara Kannada Deputy Commissioner (DC) K. Lakshmi Priya has directed all government departments in the district to remain on high alert and ensure full preparedness to handle any emergency situations during the rainy season.

Chairing a meeting of the District Disaster Management Authority on Friday, the DC emphasised the need for 24/7 vigilance, timely response, and interdepartmental coordination to minimise risks and ensure public safety.

As part of the preparations, control rooms will be set up in all taluk-level Tahsildar offices and urban local bodies, operating round the clock. Key personnel from the police, fire services, forest department, HESCOM, and BSNL will be deployed at the District Emergency Operation Centre for disaster response.

Highlighting flood-prone areas such as Araga, Chendia, Thoduru, Mudaga, and Binaga, DC Lakshmi Priya instructed concerned officials to complete all mitigation work on priority. Departments like Minor Irrigation and the Zilla Panchayat have been asked to submit status reports after completing their assigned works.

The National Highways Authority has been told to speed up road construction works, especially the Sirsi–Kumta stretch, and complete them by the end of May. The DC stressed the importance of maintaining side drains along highways to prevent waterlogging and ensure road safety. Spotters will be deployed in landslide-prone areas, and warning signs and barricades will be installed at vulnerable locations.

Officials from Project Seabird confirmed that drainage systems in nearby villages have been upgraded to prevent waterlogging during the monsoon.

Taking note of the risk around educational institutions, the DC directed that dangerous trees and overhead electrical wires near schools, colleges, and anganwadis be cleared. Structural audits will be conducted on old and dilapidated buildings, and preventive measures will be taken to avoid accidents. Department heads will be held accountable for any negligence in this regard.

She also called for awareness drives to educate students who travel through risky routes such as riverbanks and narrow footpaths. Mud houses at risk of collapse must be identified, and evacuation plans should be put in place for affected families. The Revenue Department and urban local bodies have been directed to maintain updated records of vulnerable homes and issue relocation notices in advance during heavy rain alerts.

Further, the DC ordered the immediate removal of unstable or illegal advertisement hoardings to prevent accidents.

To ensure uninterrupted power supply, HESCOM has been instructed to keep emergency vehicles, spare parts, and technical teams ready. Departments involved in civil works must prepare inventories of machinery and workforce, with contact details submitted to the control room for emergency deployment.

Anticipating possible health challenges during the monsoon, the Health Department has been asked to ensure the availability of medicines, medical equipment, ambulances, and adequate staff at all healthcare centres in the district.

The DC has made it clear that all officials must remain at their headquarters during the monsoon, barring unavoidable emergencies. Leave will not be sanctioned unless absolutely necessary, and in such cases, a replacement must be assigned.

Concluding the meeting, DC Lakshmi Priya underlined the importance of coordination, rapid grievance redressal, and community engagement. She urged all departments to work in close cooperation to ensure a safe and well-managed monsoon season for the people of Uttara Kannada.

Among those present were Additional DC Sajid Mulla, Sub-Divisional Officer Kanishka, Deputy Conservator of Forests Ravishankar, Additional SP Krishnamurthy, ZP Deputy Secretary Nagesh Raikar, along with Tahsildars and other senior district-level officials.