Nilgiris readies to welcome NE monsoon

Udhagamandalam: In the wake of India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting more rain in the Nilgiris during northeast monsoon, the district administration has armed itself with a disaster management plan to meet any eventuality. The northeast monsoon is expected to set in by October 20.
“History shows that calamities such as landslips occur only during the north-east monsoon.As IMD has predicted more rain this year, we have taken additional precautionary measures to meet any eventuality,” collector J Innocent Divya told TOI.
According to her, about 233 places spread across six taluks in the hill district have been identified as vulnerable locations based on a recent survey by Geological Survey of India (GSI). Coonoor taluk houses the most (say 40%) vulnerable locations.
“During the southwest monsoon, landslips occurred in eight places at Gudalur taluk. We have appealed the GSI to conduct a study in these areas to identify the degree of vulnerability. Probably, teose places will also be included in the list of vulnerable locations,” the collector said.
Divya said all the culverts in the district were being inspected and identified for cleaning. “Workers under the MGNREGA 100-day work scheme will be engaged to clean the culverts. Also, encroachments along water pathways will be evicted by this month-end.”
The number of disaster management teams at the zonal level has been increased to 35 this year from 23 last year. Each team would take care of at least six locations of vulnerability. Digital maps have been handed over to the zonal teams with route to rescue centres from the vulnerable locations.
Members of self-help groups and other volunteers have been identified in each vulnerable location and designated as first respondents. In this connection, a meeting was held at the collectorate on Wednesday.
The first respondents would alert the disaster management centre (1077) in case of impending rain and then the respective zonal team. Each zonal team has 7-9 officials from different departments with an internal messaging system.
A district team, comprising trained personnel, would also be kept ready to meet any eventuality. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) will also pitch in if the situation calls for the same, the collector said.
Divya said grains amounting to two months’ ration would be stocked as a precautionary measure. “Power sources and private operators of earth movers have also been sensitized ahead of the monsoon season.”