Agartala : In preparation for the challenges posed by the upcoming monsoon, a high-level meeting was convened on Tuesday at the Secretariat under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha. The meeting focused on the government’s management and preparedness for the monsoon season in the state.

Present at the meeting were Chief Secretary J K Sinha, Secretary of the Urban Development Department Abhishek Singh, Finance Secretary Apurba Roy, Special Secretary of the Planning (Statistics) Department Abhishek Chandra, Commissioner of Agartala Municipal Corporation Dr Shailesh Kumar Yadav, and other senior officials from the relevant departments.

In the meeting, the Chief Minister emphasized the importance of adopting advanced measures to tackle the monsoon challenges. He suggested seeking the advice of experts from other states if necessary. He mentioned that the issue of waterlogging in Agartala has significantly improved.

The Chief Minister also stressed the need for developing satellite hospitals and pink toilets to enhance the health infrastructure in urban areas. Additionally, he instructed the concerned officials to take necessary steps to reduce mosquito infestations in the city.

Urban Development Department Secretary Abhishek Singh informed that according to the India Meteorological Department’s forecast, rainfall is expected to be normal to below normal in June. However, rainfall in July and August is anticipated to be slightly above normal.

He assured that the Urban Development Department has taken all necessary measures to deal with the monsoon situation. Flood-prone areas within all urban administrative bodies have been identified.

“Measures such as water drainage pumps have been arranged to manage waterlogging. Quick Response and Disaster Management Teams are on standby for emergencies,” Abhishek Singh said.

Meetings have been held with the departments of electricity, drinking water, health, and water resources to coordinate efforts. Additionally, disaster management drills have been conducted, and drains are being cleaned regularly.

The Secretary also provided detailed information on flood control measures taken by the Public Works Department (Water Resources).

Dr. Shailesh Kumar Yadav, Commissioner of Agartala Municipal Corporation, discussed the possible preparations and measures for the upcoming monsoon season in the Agartala Municipal Corporation area.

He provided details on the city’s status, rainfall statistics, drain conditions, cleaning procedures, and long-term development plans for the city. The Commissioner mentioned that modern equipment is used to clean the major drains in the Agartala Municipal Corporation area, along with manual cleaning.

Currently, there are 18 pumping stations and six diesel pumps for water drainage in Agartala. The Integrated Command and Control Centre monitors the flood situation and the functionality of water drainage pumps.