Garhwal Post Bureau
Kotdwar, 30 Jul: In view of the potential risk of disasters during the monsoon season, Legislative Assembly Speaker and Kotdwar MLA Ritu Khanduri Bhushan conducted a field inspection of the Malan, Sukhrau, and Khoh rivers on Thursday. During the visit, she closely examined riverbanks, vulnerable locations, erosion-prone areas, and drainage arrangements, while reviewing the preparedness measures with concerned officials.
During the inspection, the Speaker directed officials to ensure that all necessary preparations are completed well in advance to prevent any untoward incidents during the monsoon. She instructed them to maintain special surveillance over riverside settlements, bridges, and connecting roads, and to undertake immediate protective measures in areas vulnerable to erosion, waterlogging, or flooding.
She emphasised that, in the event of any disaster, all departments must work in close coordination to ensure prompt and effective relief and rescue operations.
Ritu Khanduri Bhushan stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the state government has accorded the highest priority to disaster management. She said that protecting lives and property is the government’s foremost responsibility and stressed that proactive preparedness is more important than carrying out relief operations after a disaster has occurred. Timely preventive measures, she added, are essential to minimize the loss of life and damage to property.
She further instructed officials to conduct regular monitoring of river stretches and ensure immediate action if any obstruction to the natural flow of water is detected. She also directed that warning signboards, barricades, and other essential safety measures be installed in vulnerable areas to safeguard the public during the rainy season.
Bhushan said that the administration should carry out regular inspections of all high-risk areas while maintaining close coordination with local public representatives and residents, enabling swift and effective action in any emergency. She also instructed officials to keep all disaster management resources and machinery in a state of readiness for immediate deployment whenever required.
During the inspection, Kotdwar Sub-Divisional Magistrate Sandeep Singh, Executive Engineer of the Irrigation Department Anil Kumar Rathore, and officials from the Irrigation Department, Forest Department, and district administration briefed the Speaker on ongoing river protection works and monsoon preparedness measures. She directed officials to continue regular monitoring of all works and to accord the highest priority to public safety.
The inspection was also attended by MLA Representative Kamal Negi, Pramod Kestwal, Mandal President Ashish Rawat, Deepak Gaud, Mahesh Negi, Amit Rawat, along with other public representatives and distinguished citizens.
