DEHRADUN: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has issued clear instructions that in case of death during a disaster, the ex-gratia assistance must be provided to the victim’s family/dependents within 72 hours. If identification or any other formalities cause delay, the amount must be paid within one week without fail.
On Thursday, following the CM’s directions, Secretary for Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Vinod Kumar Suman held a meeting with district magistrates and conveyed the Chief Minister’s orders to ensure timely disbursement of relief.
Review of Monsoon Situation
The Secretary said that in view of the Orange Alert issued by the Meteorological Department, all districts must remain vigilant and closely monitor water levels of rivers and streams. He directed officials to assess damages caused so far during the monsoon and send detailed reports to the state government at the earliest so that proposals for additional funds from the Centre under SDRF and SDMF can be submitted in time.
Rescue Vehicles in Every Tehsil
As per the CM’s vision, every tehsil will soon have a dedicated rescue vehicle to be used in relief and rescue operations during disasters.
Central Government Team to Visit Uttarakhand
Suman informed that a seven-member Central Government team will soon visit the state to assess losses due to heavy rains and disasters. He instructed district magistrates to make all preparations beforehand, as this assessment will be crucial in receiving compensation funds from the Government of India.
Alert on Tehri Dam Water Release
He said that since water is currently being released from Tehri Dam, the district administration must inform Dehradun and Haridwar districts in time. Both districts have been instructed to keep continuous watch on the water level of the Ganga River and take precautionary measures as required.
Alerts to Reach Every Citizen
Suman directed that disaster-related alerts and warnings be shared through WhatsApp groups formed at the district level, ensuring that every village has its head, sarpanch, and at least 20 members included. He emphasized that as per CM Dhami’s directions, the State Disaster Management Authority is committed to making alerts accessible to every citizen of Uttarakhand.
Heliport Audit and Damage Reports
Additional CEO (Administration) Anand Swaroop stressed that disaster-related information should remain updated at all times so that it can be shared immediately with the Union Government and the Ministry of Home Affairs when required. Additional CEO (Implementation) DIG Rajkumar Negi suggested identifying sensitive residential areas near rivers to develop an alert mechanism and auditing unused helipads so that they can be activated during emergencies.
State Advisory Committee Vice-Chairman Vinay Kumar Ruhela, along with other officials, also joined the meeting virtually and directed districts to remain on high alert during the remaining monsoon period.
