As floods ravaged some parts of the country, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh talked to the Chief Ministers of the respective states namely Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Uttarakhand. These are top 4 states which are facing drought like conditions in several districts. Rajasthan Singh have assured all the flood-hit states that centre is ready for all sort of help to cope up with the disaster. Rajnath Singh conducted a telephonic interactive session with the chief ministers one by one with Akhilesh Yadav ((UP), Harish Rawat (Uttarakhand), Nitish Kumar (Bihar) and Vasundhara Raje (Raje) and took a complete report of the situations in their respective states. “I assured the Chief Ministers of full cooperation from the Centre in the flood mitigation drive launched by the states,” an official statement said
But the major point that arise here is that how are these state governments dealing with it? Talking about Rajasthan, which is infamous of being a desert state, is currently facing drought like situations in various districts and hamlets. The monsoon rains have created havoc in the state. But if you do a comparison between these four major states which are currently facing the flood conditions, you will see that comparatively Rajasthan has been able to take the situation largely under control.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has put in every possible effort that could have been done against the cruelty of nature in her state. The state department of water resources has made a contingency memo on flood to the concerned authorities and has urged them to ensure security and safety of the residents who were stuck in the torrential rain and flood in this monsoon season. Out of a total of 33 districts, twenty two districts where affected due to heavy rains. The floods of 2014 have taught the state a lesson and this time the officials were more concerned and active and prepared for the calamity.
Though such plans are made every year, but this year, for the first time minor details of the districts, rainfall reporting, and other such responsibilities by the government officials were fixed and were taken care of. The previous governments made plans but were big loop poles. Neither the plans and projects succeeded nor the conditions during and after floods improved. The BJP Government in the state of Rajasthan under the leadership of CM Vasundhara Raje has brought some significant changes. The state has witnessed the development and the efficiency of work done by the government under such circumstances.
The memorandum issued to the officials clearly state that flood management is a combined responsibility of all concerned. It said, “However, chief engineer, water resources department has a special role to play as he has been made the nodal agency for the 22 districts including Ajmer, Alwar, Baran, Bharatpur, Bhilwara, Bundi, Chittorgarh, Dausa, Dholpur, Hanumangarh, Jaipur, Karauli, Jodhpur, Pali, Kota, Sawai Madhopur, Rajsamand, Sriganganagar, Sirohi, Udaipur, Tonk and Pratapgarh.”
When contacted, a senior officer of the water resources department on Saturday, said, “Every year, we witness flood or flood-like situation at a particular district or its villages. This time we have made a plan in which responsibilities have been fixed. The officer concerned will first show white signal which would be for alert, blue signal would be to get ready for evacuation of village or hamlet affected and red signal for immediate evacuation.”
According the directions given, the concerned officials in various districts will have to maintain a list of affected villages and hamlets and other areas of cities at various stages of the water levels and will update the higher authorities whatsoever. The authorities then immediately will take required actions and gauge discharge sites. The department has also fixed a quantum of rain after which a district collector or other official will have to sound an alert. “If at a particular village or hamlet, the rainfall is 65 mm per day, it would be the duty of the officer concerned to intimate the full situation on everyday basis,” said an official.
“An officer, not below the rank of executive engineer, will work as ‘focal officer’ to look at various river basins in his district during monsoon and also sound flood warnings,” the officer added. The memorandum also says much on the dams across the state. “Any defect of serious nature affecting the safety of dam, if noticed during the inspection by an official, will necessitate immediate action. The officer will also report to the next higher officer in case of exigency,” it said.
No one is more powerful than the Mother Nature, but governments and army personals have not let it their knees bend. Rather the people, army forces and the government, together have managed to cope up with the disaster. Rajasthan among all the other states facing similar conditions, have emerged as a shining star and has set an example for all.
