Reviews disaster management awareness programme in Tiruchi
Commissioner of Revenue Administration J. Radhakrishnan on Tuesday said that District Collectors had been asked to ensure closure of abandoned borewells with immediate effect.
He was speaking to reporters after reviewing the disaster management awareness programme and witnessing the mock drill on rescue and rehabilitation here.
Mr. Radhakrishnan said that District Collectors had been instructed to have a data base on borewells including abandoned and functional. The abandoned borewells should be closed at all levels, including panchayats, town panchayats, municipalities and Corporations, in accordance with the Supreme Court order. The Collectors should personally monitor the special drive, and it should completed in a time bound manner. The idea was not to await the accidents or disasters but to prevent human loss before man-made and natural calamities struck. Citing reports received from the Collectors, he said about 9,500 abandoned borewells had been closed in different parts of the State till Tuesday.
Mr. Radhakrishnan said disaster management teams should take preventive measures against all forms of disasters so as to prevent loss of humans or animals, instead of reacting after calamities. Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami had issued orders to involve all stakeholders, including official machinery, community organisations and volunteers, to prevent human loss in the event of any natural and man-made disasters.
The Commissioner of Revenue Administration said that so far disaster management awareness meeting had been held in Madurai and Tiruchi. The Chief Minister had instructed to check the preparedness in all districts. It had been made mandatory for registration of drilling agencies. Before taking steps to construct borewells, individuals or companies should inform the Collectors and competent authorities in writing 15 days before it.
Mr. Radhakrishnan said the authorities should ensure that the wells were not left uncovered during recess or cessation of work. Borewells or tubewells, if abandoned at any stage, a certificate from the department concerned must be obtained that the abandoned borewells were properly filled up to the ground level.
On Monday, Revenue Minister R.B. Udayakumar, along with State Ministers Vellamandi N. Natarajan, S. Valarmathi and Collector S. Sivarasu, inspected an exhibition on disaster management.