Buxar: The district administration reviewed preparedness for floods and drought at a meeting chaired by district magistrate Sahila here on Monday.The District Emergency Operation Centre has been made operational round the clock for disaster management. To strengthen weather monitoring, automatic rain gauges have been installed and are functional in all 142 panchayats. The administration has also signed agreements with 87 private boat owners to maintain connectivity in six flood-prone blocks, if required.The DM said 5,684 polythene sheets have been stocked for immediate relief. Besides, 54 flood relief camps and 33 community kitchens with basic facilities have been identified for displaced people. Rates and storage locations for dry rations and food packets have also been finalised. Permanent SDRF teams and temporary NDRF teams have been deployed to respond to emergencies. Pre-flood and anti-erosion work at vulnerable stretches along the Buxar-Koilwar Ganga embankment has been completed, and sub-divisional officers have been directed to continuously monitor these sites.The health department has constituted medical teams and ensured the availability of 73 types of essential medicines in hospitals. For livestock, 11 animal relief camps, 11 mobile veterinary unit (MVU) vehicles, and stocks of 44 types of veterinary medicines have been arranged. With the district currently facing drought-like situation, uninterrupted power supply is being provided for 14 hours to agricultural feeders and 20-22 hours in rural areas. The administration is also working to ensure water reaches tail-end areas through the Sone Canal and Ganga Pump Canal systems.The DM directed all departments to complete flood preparedness measures within the stipulated timeline in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), warning that any laxity in disaster preparedness would not be tolerated.
