Jamshedpur : The administration has identified six relief centres in Jugsalai, 12 in Mango and 10 in Jamshedpur and ensured proper lights and other arrangements at the centers.
District administration sounded flood alarm in low-lying areas of the city and its outskirts after low-pressure induced rainfall and release of water from dams led to water level in the Subernarekha river inching closer to danger mark.
District administration has begun taking preventive measures to contain any threat of flash flood in the city. The agencies concerned have been asked to be on alert. Directives for the arrangement of rescue boats, life jackets, dragon lights, tarpaulin sheets, among other safety equipment have also been issuedHealth department officials have been ordered not to overlook the health and sanitation issues of low-lying and river-bank areas, which are prone to flash floods.Nirmal Nagar, Ramnagar, Domuhani, Shastri Nagar block no. 2,3,4, Baghbera new colony, Daiguttu, Azadnagar, Mango, Jugsalai, among other areas, have been identified for continuous vigil.
The executive engineer and in charge of the flood-control cell at Subarnarekha multipurpose project (SMP), has been asked to be in regular touch with the officials of Mayurbhanj, Odisha-based Banckwal dam, which is the main source of rise in water-level of the Kharkhai river, to preempt damages.
Heavy rainfall in Odisha led to opening of three gates of Bankabal dam in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha and two gates of Silaipat Dam (popularly called as Kharkhai dam) also in Odisha and one gate of Chandil dam in Seraikela Kharsawan district till the filing of this report.
Opening of gates at Bankabal dam was leading to discharge of 530 cumec (cubic metre per second) of water while water was discharged from Silapat Dam at 252 cumec and from Chandil Dam at 113 cumec.
East Singhbhum additional deputy commissioner, Ganesh Kumar said that administration issued flood warning based on feedbacks from local met office.
The district administration also wrote to the deputy general manager town services, Jusco, Dhananjay Mishra to be prepared for rescue with motorboats, paddleboats and rafts and directed special officers of Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee, Mango Notified Area Committee, Jugsalai Municipality and Jamshedpur circle officer to coordinate among themselves on a 24-hour basis for emergency evacuations.
However this time administration is planning to take preventive measures pre-hand so that horrors of the flood are not repeated. The administration is working on plans to ensure safety and better flood management system during the monsoon season.
�Though the rains in the city have been normal this time but we are working on a strategy to coordinate in such a way that the there is no negative impact of rains in the city.
We will also streamline the functioning of Disaster Management Cell,� said Subodh Kumar.The East Singhbhum administration has also decided to open up a control room that will coordinate with different agencies working to check the effects of incessant rains.
� We are taking preventive measures as this time we are not going to take any chances but steps are being taken to prepare an action plan to combat flood situation.
All the notified area committees will supervise the operations in their jurisdictions while the control room will keep in touch with them,� said a district official.