Aalo, May 5: The West Siang District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) convened a coordination meeting here on Monday to assess monsoon preparedness and review contingency measures ahead of the rainy season.
The meeting, held at the DC’s Conference Hall, was chaired by West Siang deputy commissioner Mamu Hage, who also serves as the DDMA chairperson. Zilla parishad chairperson Tumpe Ete attended as co-chairperson.
District disaster management officer Nima Dorjee presented an overview of the monsoon preparedness plan for the district, outlining departmental responsibilities and coordination protocols.
Addressing the gathering, the deputy commissioner directed all Heads of Departments (HoDs) to designate nodal officers for disaster management and ensure that required materials, including medicines and essential commodities such as rice, are stocked in advance. Departments including PHED, DFCSO, and DMO were asked to stay alert and prepared for emergency response.
Hage advised the power department to inspect and replace leaning or damaged electric poles to avoid potential risks to human life, animals, infrastructure, and vehicles. She also instructed all departments to identify and report vulnerable trees and poles to mitigate damage during extreme weather events.
The DDMA also discussed the need to enforce building bye-laws and ensure that the urban development and highway departments take steps to address drainage-related issues in the new market area, particularly where unauthorised sewage connections have contributed to waterlogging.
Dorjee requested HoDs to update and submit departmental contingency plans and to activate the designated command staff. He reminded departments to submit daily situation reports to the district control room. The helpline numbers for emergencies were shared as 1077 and 9485236779.
ZPC Tumpe Ete appealed to all stakeholders and departments to respond collectively and effectively in the event of a disaster.
Administrative officers present assured that public awareness programmes on disaster preparedness would be organised across the district.
