CM Reviews Monsoon Disaster Preparedness, Instructs Complete Readiness by Month End

Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar today reviewed the preparations before the possible flood and drought in the meeting room located in the Chief Secretariat. During the review, District Magistrates and Senior Superintendents of Police / Superintendents of Police of all the districts were also connected through video conferencing.

In the meeting, Development Commissioner cum Additional Chief Secretary of Disaster Management Department, Shri Pratyaya Amrit gave information regarding the forecast of rainfall for the monsoon season 2025 prepared by Bihar Meteorological Service Center. He told that this year there is a possibility of less than normal rainfall in the month of June. There is a possibility of normal rainfall in the months of July, August and September. This year there is a possibility of normal rainfall in the state during the period from June to September.

Additional Chief Secretary of Disaster Management Department, Shri Pratyaya Amrit gave information about the main points related to the preparations before the possible flood and drought through a presentation. He told that as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), all necessary preparations are being made before the possible flood and drought. Detailed guidelines have been given to all the districts and related departments. He also gave detailed information about the arrangements for boat operation, polythene sheets, availability of relief material, medicines, animal feed, flood shelters, community kitchens, dry ration packets/food packets, district emergency operation centre etc. He said that the way community kitchens are operated as per the instructions of the Chief Minister is appreciated all over the country. He also gave information about the operation of flood relief camps, arrangements made from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, payment arrangements for ex-gratia grant (GR), assessment of disaster situation through the State Emergency Operation Centre and immediate action by coordinating for it. Principal Secretary of Water Resources Department, Mr. Santosh Kumar Mall also gave detailed information about the preparations made by his department to deal with the possible flood and drought situation.

During the review, the Chief Minister instructed the officials and said that the disaster victims have the first right on the state treasury. The state government provides all possible help to the affected in case of flood and drought, keeping this in mind, all the concerned departments and officials should remain alert.

The Chief Minister said that before November 2005, disaster management did not work properly. After our government was formed in November 2005, serious work was done to provide disaster management and quick relief to the disaster victims. The floods that occurred in the year 2007 affected about 2.5 crore people in 22 districts. Relief work was done on a large scale for the affected people. During the Kosi tragedy in the year 2008, about 34 lakh people were affected in 5 districts Supaul, Saharsa, Madhepura, Purnia and Araria, for whom large scale work was done to provide relief. Along with this, relief and rehabilitation work was done by taking loan from the World Bank. From the year 2016, it was decided to pay a total amount of Rs 6 thousand under ex-gratia grant to the flood affected families, which was increased to Rs 7 thousand in the year 2023. Arrangements were made to give ex-gratia grant of Rs 4 lakh to the dependents of the deceased in floods and other disasters.

The Chief Minister said that during a disaster, we regularly visit flood and drought affected areas and also take stock of the situation through aerial survey so that people do not face any kind of problem. He said that all the District Magistrates and the concerned departments should make full preparations to deal with floods and droughts.

The Chief Minister, while giving instructions to the officials, said that preparations to deal with floods and droughts should be completed by the end of this month. The District Magistrate and departmental officials should go to the area and assess the situation and talk to the people and solve the problems. All damaged roads should be repaired on time. Complete preparations should be made for the safety of the embankments of the river so that there is no incident of embankment breaking anywhere. Necessary arrangements should be made for the treatment of people in case of floods. There should be adequate arrangements for drinking water. Complete preparations should be made to help the farmers in case of crop damage due to flood or drought. All necessary arrangements should be made in advance to provide relief to the people in case of disaster of flood or drought. The Disaster Management Department should continuously monitor the preparations so that people do not face any problem.

The Chief Minister said that keeping in mind the change in weather, we have to keep an eye on everything and be completely alert. If everyone works with alertness, people will get relief in case of disaster. The Minister in charge and Secretary in charge of all the districts should go to the districts and hold meetings and get information about the actual situation and work on that basis. By the first week of June, assess the situation and problems of your respective areas in a better manner and work for its solution.