Fulbari, 26th May: A high-level meeting was held at Uttar Kanya in Siliguri to discuss flood preparedness in North Bengal ahead of the upcoming monsoon season. MLAs from both ruling and opposition parties attended the meeting.
The meeting was organised on the initiative of North Bengal Development and Sports Minister Nisith Pramanik. MPs, MLAs from different districts, district administration officials, representatives of the Irrigation Department, Meteorological Department, NHPC, Central Water Commission, police, BSF, NDRF and other government agencies were present.
Several TMC MLAs, including Sabina Yasmin, Golam Rabbani, Kanailal Agarwal, Biplab Mitra, Prasun Mukhopadhyay and Mosaraf Hossain, also attended the meeting.
Discussions were held on the present condition of various rivers, embankments, riverbank erosion, damaged spurs and increasing silt accumulation leading to shallow riverbeds. Preparations related to advance warning systems, relief and rescue operations and administrative arrangements for possible flood situations during the monsoon were also reviewed.
Minister Nisith Pramanik said work had begun rapidly after the Chief Minister took oath, and flood-prone areas were being given priority. He stated that special discussions were held regarding fast-flowing rivers originating from Bhutan.
He further said that warning systems in flood-affected regions would be strengthened, NDRF deployment would be ensured, and necessary arrangements for relief distribution would be kept ready in advance.