District in-charge Secretary Vipul Bansal visited flood-affected villages and towns in Belgaum district on Wednesday. He conducted a meeting with officials to assess disaster relief efforts and flood management strategies.
Bansal instructed officers to ensure there are no human or animal casualties due to rain or flooding. He inspected the Lolasur bridge and held discussions with Public Works engineers. Additionally, he interacted with residents at a care center established in Gokak.
Speaking to reporters, Bansal reassured that there is currently no immediate flood threat in Belgaum as rainfall has decreased and excess water from the Hidkal dam is being released gradually.
He announced plans to gather a report on the condition of bridges and alternative routes, which will be forwarded to the State government. Bansal highlighted ongoing discussions with the Public Works and Revenue Ministers regarding long-term solutions for bridge submergence and issues in low-lying areas.
Later, Bansal convened a comprehensive meeting with departmental officers in Belgaum, stressing the need for heightened caution amidst forecasts of increased rainfall in August. He mandated that all officers remain on duty without taking leave and instructed tahsildars to regularly monitor care centers, ensuring they are well-equipped with essentials like food, medicine, and water.
Preparing for potential challenges, Bansal urged subdivisional officers and tahsildars to learn from past disaster management practices and emphasized the availability of sufficient funds in tahsildar accounts.
He underscored the importance of inter-departmental coordination, particularly concerning reservoir water releases, and urged scientific assessments of crop damage and road conditions following the floods.
Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan highlighted precautionary measures such as reducing water storage in the Lal Bahadur Shastri Reservoir to manage flood situations effectively. He emphasized successful coordination between Karnataka and Maharashtra departments and outlined plans for evacuating river basin villages along Krishna, Ghataprabha, and Malaprabha rivers.
Roshan assured prompt compensation within 24 hours for families affected by human or cattle casualties. As preparations continue, 427 care centers across the district are ready, with 46 already operational to shelter 10,304 individuals from 3,684 affected families.
Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Rahul Shinde affirmed the Health Department’s readiness to deploy medical assistance, except in certain inaccessible hilly and forested areas. Superintendent of Police Bhima Shankar Guled noted safety measures, including restricted access to risky areas like Gokak Falls and monitored reopening of submerged bridges following safety inspections by Public Works officials.
