Principal secretary of state home department convenes review meeting
Jamshedpur, April 12 : Principal secretary of state home department S.K.G Rahate, on Thursday reviewed action plans for use of special central assistance fund in rebel hit areas of West Singhbhum and East Singhbhum district at district collectorate.
Latter speaking to media he said that a portion of the disaster relief fund will now be used to mitigate water crisis in areas ahead of the scorching summers. He went on to inform that directives have been issued to all the deputy commissioners in this direction.
�We have reviewed the action plan. Necessary directive has been issued to all the deputy commissioners in this direction to ensure water availability in those areas where rainfalls will be less than 75 per cent of the normal or where the groundwater level goes down by four meters or more,� said Rahate.
Sources in the home department informed that, as per the directive each of the districts will have to spend 10 per cent of their disaster relief fund in areas facing water crisis.
The home secretary principal secretary said that funds from disaster would also be released for installation of lightning conductors.
�We are also gearing up to set up emergency response center in districts and process is underway to fill up posts in the state disaster relief and management (SDRM),� said Rahate.
It may be mentioned that incidents of lightning have been reported in rural areas of East Singhbhum too. The state had decided to install lightning conductors in different government schools since 2008 after being ordered by the state High Court.
The officials in the meeting also informed that district disaster authorities in all the 24 districts have been asked to work along with district education department to make students and teachers aware of steps taken during disaster.
The officials also said that, as per the directives of the state government, installation of lightning conductors have been stopped in schools across the district from last year.
The senior officer also informed about state government proposal to increase compensation amount of those killed in naxal violence from the existing Rs 1 lakh.
He also said that flash floods and lightning during monsoon would form core areas for disaster management plans of the district administration. He also stressed that efforts would be made for a coordination between local urban bodies.