District-wise task forces to check flood damage in state

A task force each in every district has been kept ready to reach to a spot in minimum time after receiving an information about embankments getting damaged or people being affected due to rise in water level of rivers.

This is the first time that such task forces have been set up to combat the situation during monsoon. Each task force is comprised of a set of engineers and other officials of the irrigation department, who will be equipped with high-end communication systems for better coordination with senior officials at both district and state level.

Setting up of the task forces was essential to bring down the reaction time. The task force will have members who are efficient and experienced. 

They will make quick decisions regarding work needed to be done to check the damage during floods or flood-like situations.

A 245 km stretch of embankments has been identified as vulnerable and the necessary work by the 

task force is going on in those areas to ensure that the situation does not become dangerous during the 

monsoon, which is set to arrive in the state in the next 10 to 15 days.

State Irrigation Minister Rajib Banerjee, said: “A set of initiatives have been taken up this year for the first time to combat any emergency that comes up during the monsoon. Task forces have been set up so that the repairing work, if necessary, can be undertaken without losing much time. “At the same time, there will be teams in every district that will keep round-the-clock watch on the situation of the vulnerable areas, besides setting up the usual control room.”

It was learnt that control rooms had become operational from June 1 and the helpline numbers 1800-345-0117 and 1800-345-3255 had been set up. Engineers are also being placed at the control rooms. The state irrigation department has taken up all necessary measures so that people of the state do not face much trouble during the monsoon. 

Officials and engineers of the department are in constant touch with the meteorological department to get updates on the monsoon situation.

Meanwhile, two households at Iswaripur village at Namkhana were affected due to the rise in water level in Hatania-Doania river. Here, too, the task force rushed to the spot within the minimum time and carried out necessary action.

Safety of the people was ensured while the task force was carrying out its work. They completed their work once the water level went down during low tide.