GUWAHATI: Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam, Ravi Kota, conducted a review of the state’s flood preparedness in anticipation of the upcoming rainy season. Kota looked into how the various departments were getting ready for the rains coming ahead and sought updates from District Commissioners (DCs) through video conferencing in the high-level meeting.
Gyanendra Dev Tripathi, Principal Secretary of Revenue & Disaster Management, provided an overview of the state's flood preparedness measures and highlighted the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms along with the delegation of financial powers for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Civic Data Lab (CDL) also presented an online demonstration of their Intelligent Data solution for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDS-DRR) developed for the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).
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Kota suggested that CDL look into further data-driven solutions. The meeting concluded with several decisions regarding flood response during the flood season, including:
• Financial Powers: As per the finance department's notification, DCs have been granted financial authority for minor works related to flood damage between April 1 and October 31 each year.
• Meteorological Forecasting: The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) informed that the updated state forecast would be issued by the end of May, with a seven-day prediction for more accurate rainfall forecasts.
• Brahmaputra Board: The board announced that 97% of the ongoing flood control schemes in Majuli were completed. They have prepositioned geobags and porcupines to manage any emergencies during the flood season.
• Public Works Department (PWD): The PWD requested additional financial flexibility to undertake road repair and restoration, as the existing SDRF/NDRF norms may not always be sufficient.
• Food & Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department: The department has requested the central government to allocate 20,000 MT of OMSS rice to Assam. However, no response has been received, prompting the Chief Secretary to take the matter up with the central government.
• UNICEF's Assistance: UNICEF agreed to assist in assessing model relief camps and developing a Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) in Assam. The model relief camps will be monitored by all-women groups to ensure gender-sensitive disaster response.
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