Darjeeling,5July :-
Starting from tomorrow, the newly formed disaster management committee for the Hills will survey the municipal wards and different blocks every Wednesday. The 15 member disaster management committee that was formed on 23June has members from the Darjeeling Municipality, Civil Defense, Relief department, the Public Works Dept (PWD) and Public Health Engineering (PHE).
The incessant rainfall in the hills has triggered landslides in Kurseong and other parts of the hills. Last month a landslide in Kurseong claimed 4 lives.
Recently, on a visit to the landslide affected sites, the north Bengal development minister, Mr Gautam Deb said that the disaster management system in the hills was not well equipped and lacked trained people.
"The members of the committee will make a study and inspect the municipal wards and blocks every Wednesday. Sewage, drainage system,pipelines construction of buildings will also be checked" said Gopal Rai, a civil defense official......
To create awareness among common people on disaster management issues, campaigns will be organized across the hills from 08 July starting from Takdah block, 25km from Darjeeling.
"The committee will do its best to raise awareness among the people of the hills and steps will be taken to mitigate the outcome of natural disasters....."
"Negligence of locals have often contributed to natural catastrophes, for example the recent landslide in Nepali Girls Higher Secondary School, Darjeeling took place due to the leakage of pipeline of the hotel located above the school" said the official.
Statesman News Service
STH would like to thank Compuset (Darjeeling) for the photo.
