Muzaffarabad: Chief Secretary of t Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Muhammad Usman Chachar has directed that control rooms should be established at all divisions and districts of AJK during monsoon season to avoid any untoward situation.
While chairing a meeting to discuss the preparations and arrangements for the upcoming monsoon season. The meeting was attended by government secretaries, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, and other relevant officials. The Secretary Disaster Management Authority AJK provided a detailed briefing to the Chief Secretary regarding the Monsoon Contingency Plan.
On the occasion the chief secretary directed that special focus should be given to vulnerable areas. Control rooms should be established at all division and district levels as part of the pre-monsoon preparedness. Effective coordination should be ensured among the administration, police, and other relevant departments. Complete and up-to-date data on rescue equipment, tools, and available resources should be readily accessible at all times to avoid any disruptions during rescue operations.
The Chief Secretary emphasized that if any area is at risk due to its vulnerability and potential impact from the monsoon, it should be included in the corresponding category. He mentioned that deforestation, mining, and unauthorized land encroachments have led to climate changes, increasing temperatures, and melting glaciers. Public awareness should be raised about these issues, and a greater focus should be placed on tree plantation. The Chief Secretary expressed concerns about the potential damage caused by encroachments and instructed district administrations to focus on eliminating encroachments and ensuring proper waste disposal.
The Supreme Court has provided GPS data on the flow of major rivers to the Department of Environmental Protection. Divisional commissioners can coordinate on this matter when necessary. The Chief Secretary instructed that District Disaster Management Authorities, which are working on rescue and relief operations, should provide details of their activities to the control rooms established for the monsoon. Availability of resources, emergency equipment, and other rescue supplies should be properly recorded. Coordination should be extended to the tehsil level, and attention should be given to non-food items as well.