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Govt tackles twin challenge of cyclone Amphan, Covid outbreak
The PMO is engaged in efforts to ensure that plans are in place for the relief and rehabilitation of people at risk of facing the brunt of the storm, officials said.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), preoccupied with the enormous challenge of tackling the coronavirus disease and containing its spread, now also has to worry about super cyclone Amphan, which is set to make landfall in West Bengal on Wednesday.
According to functionaries familiar with the situation, the PMO’s focus for the past two months has been almost exclusively on Covid-19, whether giving final touches to federal guidelines on how to deal with the public health crisis, coming up with new strategies to contain its spread, ensuring relief for stranded migrant workers or preparing plans for a revival of the economy.
With Amphan set to make landfall in West Bengal between Digha and Hatiya Island in Bangladesh on Wednesday afternoon, the PMO as well as the home ministry are in talks with key ministries and states administrations to size up their preparedness to tackle what has been billed as the first super cyclone in the Bay of Bengal since 1999, when over 9,000 people were killed in Odisha.
The PMO is engaged in efforts to ensure that plans are in place for the relief and rehabilitation of people at risk of facing the brunt of the storm, officials said. It is also keeping an eye on the supply of food, medicines and other essential items and coordinating between ministries on the logistics of the exercise.
“Most of the meetings in the PMO are related to Covid. But from Sunday onwards, there has been one daily meeting on the cyclone,” said an official, requesting anonymity.
One of the major concerns that figured during the meetings at the PMO is how the cyclone may impact the battle against Covid in the affected areas.
Management of Covid-19 requires strict adherence to guidelines such as social distancing, quarantines and the need to avoid crowded spaces . The concern is that the cyclone, with the potential to throw life out of gear in large areas that lie in its path, may upset their implementation.
“When the PMO takes these meetings, the plans are made also keeping in mind that the cyclone will come amidst an extraordinary health situation,” one official said
On Tuesday, cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba chaired the third meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) to review the preparedness of states, central ministries and other agencies to tackle the cyclone and its aftermath.
The India Meteorological Department said the super cyclone was expected to hit the West Bengal coast with wind speeds ranging up to 155-165 kmph, gusting to 185 kmph, accompanied by heavy rainfall. Several districts including Kolkata may be affected, it has warned.
“Chief Secretary, Odisha and Additional Chief Secretary, West Bengal apprised the NCMC of preparatory measures taken by them. They informed that evacuation of people from the low-lying areas is being carried out. All actions have been taken to stock food grains, drinking water and other essential supplies. Teams for maintenance and restoration of Power and Telecom services have also been positioned,” said a government communique.
