Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (MSP)

Udupi, May 31: Separate workforces, one each for the three taluks of the district, have been formed as a precautionary measure to effectively manage unforeseen miseries that the ensuing monsoon rains might bring, informed deputy commissioner (DC) of the district P Hemalata.

Speaking after presiding over the natural calamity meeting held in the auditorium of her office on Friday May 30,  she said that these contingency workforces will be responsible to take up emergency relief measures as soon as natural calamities are reported. To facilitate the general public to contact them in case of tragedies, she asked members of these forces to inform their contact numbers to the public. She also instructed the officials of the public works department and the municipal council, to repair the drains located on Kalsanka road in the city and ensure that storm water flows freely through these drains.

The DC also instructed officials of the forest department to inspect roadside trees, identify those which either pose dangers to the road users and also those that are old and weak, and to chop them off. The officials were also requested to be ready to remove trees immediately after they fall to the ground so as to lessen hindrance to traffic. The health department officials in response to a query, assured the DC that the department has enough stock of medicines to counter contagious diseases that normally abound during monsoon months.The officials of the health department were also directed to keep their ambulances in running condition and to spray disease resistant medicines to the water tanks. The regional transport office officials were asked to provide government vehicles whenever necessary for relief measures.

MESCOM officials said that a 24-hour service centre has been set up by the department to ensure that tragedies connected with electricity supply poles and wires are avoided. The officials of horticulture and agriculture too assured the DC that they would conduct inspection and submit report on the loss to the standing crops, during this season.  The fisheries department said that deep sea fishing has been baned from June 15 to August 10. They were instructed to keep sufficient number boats and expert divers ready to face any exigencies and also to provide contact numbers of such divers. She aked the concerned officials to open service centres and post staff in all the three taluks, where complaints are received all 24 hours of the day. She asked the district information officer to publicise the telephone numbers of these centres through the media.

District superintendent of police Devajyoti Roy, zilla panchayath chief executive officer Prasanna Kumar and hedquarters assistant to the DC Kashinath Honnakeri were present at the meeting.