The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has sought proposals from all government departments as part of its efforts to prepare a concrete action plan in advance to mitigate monsoon-related calamities in Kozhikode district. Department-wise action plans prepared on the basis of State-level directives will be discussed first at a meeting of the DDMA here on Saturday.
Revenue Department officials said heads of various government departments or delegated officers would be responsible for presenting the action plan for preliminary discussions and approval. Department heads concerned had already been given instructions with regard to priority areas, expected initiatives on their part and the method of implementation, they said.
In the district, focus would be mainly on protecting people in landslip-prone areas with the support of community rescue volunteers. Relocation of families residing in such unsafe locations would be considered ahead of the monsoon season on the basis of department-wise action plans and suggestions. Opinions of local administrator and village authorities too would be taken into account while preparing the district-level action plan of the DDMA.
Officials said the first DDMA review meeting to be held on Saturday would also discuss additional requirements of the district to effectively carry out rescue operations during emergency situations. The preparedness of various rescue teams operating in public and private sectors too would be assessed, they said. A separate action plan would be prepared for covering rural areas where landslip and floods claimed lives of several persons during the last monsoon season. If needed, families still residing in such vulnerable areas would be shifted to safer locations. Kattippara and Puthuppadi grama panchayat authorities would be asked to audit security issues well in advance taking into account the big loss the two local bodies suffered during the last monsoon season.
In 2018, the total loss suffered by Kozhikode district alone due to the floods and landslips was ₹228 crore. The most tragic incident occurred during the term was a landslip at Karincholamala in Kattippara panchayat which claimed the lives of 14 persons including children. The Puthuppadi panchayat too had a tough time with multiple landslips in interior areas. The Kannappankundu river had split into two, with one arm forcing down across clusters of residential areas.