With the Punjab government issuing a warning to all districts that water levels on the basins of Satluj are likely to rise owing to a possibility of heavy rain in the next three to five days, the Ludhiana administration has put precautionary flood control measures.
In a communiqué received by the district administration from the office of financial commissioner revenue (FCR) , it has been stated that heavy rainfall is expected in Himachal Pardesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab and Delhi. Due to this, the water level in river basins of Yamuna and Satluj and their tributaries are likely to rise rapidly. The letter further reads that, “Kindly keep a close watch on the situation and put the machinery on alert to respond for any flood kind of situation.”
The Ludhiana administration swung into action and alerted all the sub-divisional magistrates (SDM)s and the block development panchayat officers (BDPO)s. Besides this, the Ludhiana Police and the municipal corporation have also been put on alert and to ensure a proper communication system.
The drainage department has been directed to keep a close watch on Satluj and the flood control room has also been activated.
All the officials in-charge of various departments have been asked to remain in their headquarters and keep their mobile phones switched on at all hours. The officials cannot leave the headquarters without prior permission of the Ludhiana deputy commissioner.
The sub divisional magistrates, tehsildars and DROs have been asked to ensure that all the flood control rooms in the district are in working condition and the officials on duty are present round the clock. The official on duty cannot leave the room unless the other person on duty assumes charge.
Executive engineer (drainage department) has been instructed to ensure prompt action in case of floods at the 27 sensitive points in the area.
{{/usCountry}}Executive engineer (drainage department) has been instructed to ensure prompt action in case of floods at the 27 sensitive points in the area.
{{/usCountry}}Besides, necessity measures be taken in villages Chuharwal, Kasabad, KutbeBal, Raiyan which are prone to floods.
A close watch will be kept in all the areas on the banks of Satluj river and any information pertaining to rising of water level to be immediately passed on to the seniors.
In case of floods, the patwaris have been directed to inform government about the damages in the prescribed format. The officials have been asked to prepare a list of required machinery for adequate flood control and to ensure coordination with service providers so that they can be contacted in case of emergency.
MLA Ashu instructs officials to complete flood control arrangements in time
Ludhiana: Taking a serious note of the flood alert, MLA from Ludhiana West Bharat Bhushan Ashu has issued instructions to the district administration and Ludhiana municipal corporation to complete all flood control arrangements in time to avoid any flood like situation as predictions. While giving this information, Ashu said that nothing was done for the development of infrastructure (roads, sewerage, streets and cleanliness of Budha nullah) in the city during the last 10 years. “Due to lack of proper infrastructure, the waterlogging problem persists at many places. Normal life is thrown out of gear and water-borne diseases also spread,” he added.
“The health department should be ready to control the situation if any water-borne disease spreads. Proper arrangements for medicine and another facilities should also be made. Officials should not leave their stations without prior permission of their senior officials,’’ he added.
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