The district administration has set in motion a comprehensive flood contingency plan by deploying two 30-seater boats, specially brought in from East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh, in Godavari river at Bhadrachalam to tackle exigencies, if any, in the peak rainy season.
The two boats equipped with life-jackets would remain stationed on the shores of the river to aid relief and rescue operations in the event of flood, sources said.
The move forms an integral part of the unifocal flood contingency plan formulated by the Revenue Department in association with other government departments and agencies. Though the water level in the Godavari remained abysmally low at the temple town, the authorities concerned have initiated a slew of preventive steps to effectively deal with exigencies throughout the rainy season.
The plan envisages deployment of a team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in Bhadrachalam till the end of monsoon, advance preparations for stocking adequate quantity of essential commodities, medicines and fuel in the flood-prone areas. Two boats would be utilised to monitor the water level in the river and carry out relief and rescue operations in Bhadrachalam division in the event of flash floods in the river, said Bhavesh Mishra, Sub-Collector, Bhadrachalam.
Necessary repairs have been carried out on five sluice gates of the flood bank along the Godavari and the entire flood protection mechanism is being maintained properly.
NDRF team
Adequate quantity of rice and other essential commodities have already been stocked in the flood-prone areas, he said, adding that a 30-member team of NDRF personnel was expected to reach Bhadrachalam in a fortnight to camp in the town as per the flood contingency plan.