Secretary Disaster Management took a meeting regarding preparation of flood management plan in various areas of Uttarakhand
Under the chairmanship of Secretary Disaster Management, Dr. Ranjit Kumar Sinha, a meeting was organized in the secretariat on Thursday regarding preparation of flood management plan for various areas of Uttarakhand, especially the plains of the state. Secretary Disaster Management instructed officials of Irrigation Department Uttarakhand, Irrigation Department Uttar Pradesh, Central Water Commission, Disaster Management Department to work on flood management plan with mutual coordination. He said that the report of the water level of all major rivers should be updated every hour in the Central Water Commission website.
Secretary Disaster Management said that on the basis of information about the water level and water flow of the rivers in the upper region, along with the rainfall in the water catchment area of the rivers of hilly and plain areas of the state, for the plain areas which may be affected by flood. The warning system should be strengthened so that the affected population can be taken to safe places in time.
Secretary Disaster Management said that information related to flood forecast is made available by the Central Water Commission for only four places in Uttarakhand Rudraprayag, Srinagar, Rishikesh and Haridwar. No information related to flood forecasting is made available for any area in Kumaon division. Directing the officers of the Central Water Commission, he said that flood forecasting system should be ensured in the major rivers of Kumaon division as well.
Secretary Disaster Management said that information should also be exchanged in Kumaon Division of Central Water Commission, Disaster Management Office, Dehradun. He said that by obtaining digital topographic maps of the entire state from the Survey of India, figures should be drawn on the map and MIS and Algorithm prepared corresponding figures of all those figures should be updated on the GIS map so that the population according to the water level of the rivers. Accurate warnings can be issued in advance for the affected areas.
Secretary Disaster Management said that cross sections should be taken every year in the month of December-January at pre-identified places of all the rivers of the state and other unsafe important places by the Irrigation Department so that the process of training/dredging of rivers can be done in a scientific manner. Can and on the basis of cross section, the water flow of the rivers can be assessed and warnings can be issued.
The Irrigation Department, Dehradun, was directed to prepare a concept note in view of the desired flood forecast and water logging by the Secretary, Disaster Management, so that a request could be made to the Central Water Commission for action accordingly. Officers of Central Water Commission, Irrigation Department Uttar Pradesh, Irrigation Department Uttarakhand and other officers were present in the meeting.
