Earthquake rehabilitation reinforced with monitoring cells and improved preparedness measures

GANGTOK, 18 March: Now that the earthquake rehabilitation funds have begun coming in from the Central government, the State has initiated process to institute proper processes for their utilization and monitoring and is also now focusing on strengthening its disaster response for the future.
All departments receiving funds from the Centre as per their respective DPRs have been directed by the Relief Commissioner to set up dedicated monitoring cells to keep regular tabs on progress of repair and rebuilding works and monitor utilization.
The state government, officials inform, is particularly focused on the proper utilization of these funds for their stated purposes. Coordination meetings are being held with the line departments on a regular basis to assess the progress of restoration works as well as to discuss disaster preparedness for the year ahead, which is expected to be a worrying phase with the soil and underlying rock mass in various areas rendered vulnerable to the monsoons by the 18 September earthquake.
Meanwhile, the State government, through the Land Revenue and Disaster Management department, is also focusing on disaster preparedness for the coming year, informs the Relief Commissioner, S Bhadauria.
A major awareness and coordination drive with the district authorities is to be launched in April. This drive will include the active involvement of Civil Defence teams, the line departments, district authorities as well as central agencies.
The focus will be on coordination among the various agencies and setting up cells in various localities comprising of residents to respond efficaciously and expeditiously to natural calamities in their respective areas. The other major focus of this drive will be to identify vulnerable zones and areas as well as structures. These, the Relief Commissioner informs, will be put under special watch.
The identification and watch of vulnerable zones and structures will be done with the help of residents of the respective areas. It is expected that the monsoon will wreak havoc in the form of landslides and disruptions in road communication in various parts of the state which has been weakened and made vulnerable in the wake of the earthquake. This requires proper preparedness and prevention measures which the state is preparing to work out with this major drive.
Facilitation centres are also to be opened in the district offices which will provide shelter and immediate relief measures to people affected by natural calamities. The internet is to be used in a big way for communication and assessing of information, particularly to provide hourly updates on road status and information on any calamity and which will provide updated information. On the other hand it was informed that the Civil Defence is to be rejuvenated in all the districts.