The devastating flash floods and landslides that led to loss of lives and damages across the State has exposed the government’s lack of preparedness and actions taken to prevent such unpredicted disasters.
In September 2014, similar landslides and flash floods had occurred in several parts of the state, which saw the loss of scores of precious lives and caused damages to properties worth crores of rupees.
Following the disasters, the state government at that time, had decided to identify all vulnerable areas and landslide-prone areas so as to take measures to prevent occurrence of such incidents.
However nothing has moved then and nothing has been thought about now.
On Friday, Revenue and Disaster Management minister, Kyrmen Shylla told reporters that the cause of landslides and flash floods was due to heavy rains in the last few days.
When asked about the steps taken by the state government to identify landslide prone areas and take steps to alert residents residing in such areas, Shylla said the citizens should remain alert.
“We have to be alert in this kind of situation, and I did not have the report with me at present related to areas which are prone to landslides and flash floods,” the minister said.
He however informed that his department would write to other concerned departments to look into this aspect.
“Many times we see retaining walls collapsed and we have to take steps including the building byelaws that are there to prevent disaster,” Shylla said.
He also informed that his department would write to the forest department on the need to cut down trees that put people’s life and properties in peril.
“We see many times when heavy rains come, many trees fall down on the roads and on people’s houses,” Shylla pointed out.
