Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr Manik Saha on Saturday laid special emphasis on taking planned development initiatives by identifying areas prone to repeated water logging and flood risk during the Monsoon.

He said that taking advance preparation is more effective, fruitful, and cost-effective than dealing with the disaster after it occurs.

“Learning from the experience of dealing with the terrible floods in Tripura in 2024, every department, district administration, and concerned organization must ensure all-round preparation before the onset of the monsoon this time. Last time, the state successfully dealt with the flood situation with the joint efforts of everyone. Using that experience, this time we have to work in a more planned, coordinated, and responsible manner, so that the possible damage can be kept to a minimum,” he said.

Dr Saha said this while chairing a high-level review meeting held today at the War Room of TIFT, Agartala, to deal with monsoon disasters, the flood situation in the state, and resolve water logging in Agartala city.

The Chief Minister said that, in order to warn the common people about possible disasters in advance and to learn from the experience of dealing with floods, the line departments, district administration, and related organizations should ensure all-round preparation before the onset of the monsoon.

“Last time, the state successfully dealt with the flood situation with the combined efforts of everyone. Using that experience, this time we will have to work in a more planned, coordinated, and responsible manner so that the possible damage can be kept to a minimum,” said the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister directed the district administration to warn the common people about possible disasters in advance and inform them about the necessary initiatives through publicity.

“The equipment used in rescue operations and each shelter should always be kept ready for use. Food, pure drinking water, electricity, hygiene, communication systems, and other necessary services should be ensured in the shelters. He directed officials to regularly review whether there is sufficient stock of food, fuel, emergency equipment, and necessary materials in each district,” he said.

In the meeting, the Chief Minister told the security officials that during disasters, the safety of the people staying in the shelters as well as the houses and property left behind by them must be equally ensured.

He laid special emphasis on regular patrolling, surveillance, and taking necessary security measures so that unscrupulous groups cannot take advantage of the situation. In this regard, he ordered that top priority be given to the safety and needs of children, the elderly, sick people, and other vulnerable people.

At the same time, the Chief Minister also directed officials to consider the safety, shelter, and food of livestock with equal importance.

He directed the concerned departments to ensure regular cleaning of drains and sewage systems, round-the-clock monitoring of rivers and river embankments, keep the control room operational 24 hours a day, and ensure adequate stock of emergency medicines and medical supplies, including halogen tablets, bleaching powder, paracetamol, antibiotics, and snake venom antidotes.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, Secretary of the Urban Development Department Milind Ramteke, and Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation Dipak Majumder.