Be ready for rains, CM tells officials

MUMBAI: With just a fortnight to go for the onset of the monsoon, Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has put the administration on the job. He has asked government agencies and utilities to put on hold all other work and concentrate on monsoon and disaster management.

“The experience of the previous two monsoons in Mumbai is still fresh, and mismanagement won’t be tolerated this time,” the chief minister warned the authorities. Mr Deshmukh asked agencies to complete preparations for monsoon by May 31.

Officials from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, railways, Bombay Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST), police, army, navy, air force, and civil aviation attended the pre-monsoon review meeting convened by the chief minister.

The chief minister stressed the need for co-ordination among all agencies and utilities in tackling emergency situations. He reminded the utilities that all means of transportation and communication had collapsed on July 26, 2005, and continued to be dysfunctional for around a week.

For better co-ordination, every agency has been directed to appoint a senior liaison officer, who would be available to the control room round the clock and respond to calls. The BMC has been directed to bring out news bulletins every two hours, about the status of rain, floods, and precautionary measures.

The BMC has been told to keep ready rescue teams at ward-levels and in low-lying areas. The chief minister said all cellular phone companies should co-operate with the police and civic staff to disseminate necessary information.

The traffic police have been directed to prepare an alternative traffic diversion plan. The health authorities have been asked to review hospitals’ preparedness to deal with contingencies.