The State government has decided to implement a panchayat-level coordination mechanism to ensure effective sanitation and relief work in Ernakulam district.
Minister for Local-Self Government A.C. Moideen, who chaired a meeting to review relief and re-construction efforts, said panchayat-level samitis would be responsible for cleaning work, distribution of relief materials, and rehabilitation.
The government’s aim is to ensure proper coordination of work, he said, adding that a ward-level samiti would be formed in each panchayat. A member of the panchayat concerned will be the chairman of the samiti. Special officers and panchayat secretaries will coordinate various initiatives.
Mr. Moideen said the samitis would have to coordinate with officials of Health, Panchayat, Revenue and Animal Husbandry departments, and KSEB. The services of volunteers also have to be utilised. Besides, the samitis will ensure that the flood-affected people receive necessary materials and equipment for cleaning their houses.
Kudumbasree units have to use their own cleaning equipment. The Deputy Director of Panchayats will be in charge of sanitation work. Panchayats have been given permission to divert the Plan fund for relief and rehabilitation. The non-biodegradable waste being removed from flood-hit homes should be deposited in a specific area, and it will be collected jointly by workers engaged by the Suchitwa Mission and the Haritha Keralam Mission. The agencies involved in the process will transport waste to Brahmapuram.
The collection of e-waste and plastic materials will be done at the panchayat-level before handing them over to Clean Kerala Company. The local bodies concerned have to examine the strength of houses affected by floods. A team comprising plumbers, electricians, engineers, and overseers should examine each flood-hit home and ensure its stability.
The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) has promised to open additional treatment facilities for the flood-affected people. Such centres will have one doctor each and a system for distributing medicines. The police have been directed to step up vigil over the flood-hit areas to check theft.
Mr. Moideen said all relief camps would now be under government control. The panchayats concerned will be responsible for ensuring equitable distribution of resources to the flood-hit people.
An official release said that 618 camps had been closed as on Thursday after the inmates returned home. As many as 63,037 families have already left the camps. Over two lakh people are still housed in around 350 camps in the district.
Meanwhile, the district administration said that Akshaya entrepreneurs and officials of the Information Kerala Mission had been asked to collect details of people in relief camps. They will collect details like name, address, phone number, age, identification documents, The details will be uploaded to the government’s rescue portal. The aim is to ensure speedy release of financial aid.