Bhubaneswar: The Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) department has issued SOP regarding the preparation of an action plan for the management of flood and water logging in urban areas during the ensuing monsoon.
In order to avert any flood-like situation and water logging during the rainy season and also at the time of disaster like excessive and heavy rain, flood, cyclone etc. suitable effective measures are required to be taken up on an urgent basis.
In this connection Sangramjit Nayak, Director of Municipal Administration has written to all Municipal Commissioners of all Municipal Corporations, all Executive Officers of all Municipality and NACs with directions to follow the SOP scrupulously.
Like in previous years, ULBs have to take up joint verification with respective Drainage Division/ M.I Division of Water Resources Department to ensure desilting & repair of all clogged/ choked drain channels before the onset of monsoon.
Due to excessive & heavy rainfall, the roads, pedestrian footpaths and drains are covered with rain water as a result of which holes or damage on the drains particularly covered drains are not visible for which people fall into the drain causing accidents and sometimes fatal.
In order to avoid such accidents, the following actions are required to be undertaken well ahead of onset of monsoon:
100 % verification of all drains and machine holes (both open and closed) be made within the ULB limit
In case of closed drains and machine holes, it is required to check the cover and see whether those have been damaged and there is any chance of accident
Take immediate steps to repair and cover the holes.
In case, it is not possible to repair the same you may put appropriate signage to caution people so that accidents can be avoided.
Cleaning, de-silting, maintenance of all drains.
Covering of drains with slabs and vulnerable points with nets with a warning to make the people aware about it.
It is seen that large volume of construction and demolition materials are being piled up inside the drains and on the road side which run away through rain water causing drain congestion. The same should be strictly monitored. De-silting materials taken out of the drains has to be removed immediately to prevent them from re-entering drains.
Vulnerable water logging areas/low-lying areas to be identified and appropriate steps be taken for the discharge of water expeditiously at the time of emergency by pre-positioning pump sets.
Wherever there is encroachment of drain channels which causes obstruction to the free flow of either stormwater, rainwater or wastewater, the same should be demolished forthwith and channels are to be kept obstruction free.
Legal action, wherever required to be initiated against the defaulting person or institution in order to prevent them from further encroachment.
Rampant use of polythene in urban areas is a major cause for drain channel clogging leading to water logging in adjacent low-lying areas. This may be monitored scrupulously.
Installation of Bar Screens at appropriate places in the Secondary / Tertiary drains and Wire mesh at the outfall for removal of Solid Waste found in storm water may be ensured. The removed materials should be disposed of properly. Human Resource should be mapped to clear the screen while water is flowing heavily at regular intervals to avoid possible chokes
Keeping in view the problems of urban inhabitants, immediate arrangements to be made for emergency repair and restoration of roads/ drains etc.
In the rainy season, due to flood-like situations, there may be outbreaks of common vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue & Japanese encephalitis & water-borne diseases like diarrhoea and jaundice. So water logging in habitation areas may completely be avoided. Proper sanitation measures are to be taken with utmost care to avert these eventualities. The required cooperation from other Departments may also be ensured.
To avoid all these diseases, the application of larvicides and bleaching powder in the water logging areas, cover & sealing of septic tanks & soak pits, proper disposal of garbage, cover water containers etc. are to be taken up on urgent basis. Regular fogging in the ULB areas are required to be undertaken on priority.
All ULBs are requested for the formation of the Unified Command and Control Centre headed by the Commissioner/EO with members from other line Departments/agencies including Fire Services to manage the flood-like situation within their jurisdiction. The line Departments may also be requested to send their representatives as member in the said centre.
During monsoons, the unified control rooms should become very active and provide all necessary assistance & coordination to the public and all stakeholders in effectively managing urban flooding and other inconveniences on a war footing.
A coordination meeting with all relevant Departments & agencies may be conducted immediately and necessary office orders may be issued formally notifying the constitution of the Unified command & control centre with helpline (telephone number). This control room shall be managed by officials on a roster duty basis during the operation period.
The Collectors & Commissioners are requested to ensure inter-departmental coordination and assistance in managing this important activity of the ULBs in view of the sensitivity and public perception of the effectiveness of the Local Governance.
For proper management of urban flooding, all efforts should be taken for involvement of the elected representatives and ward committees for management of flood and water logging in the respective areas.
The above instructions should be carried out and followed meticulously so as to prevent & manage water logging / flood-like situation Nayak has instructed.
