File photo of the damage caused by floods in Khammam last year. It was mentioned by Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy at a video conference held with district collectors on Thursday (June 13, 2025).
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS
Telangana Government has put the collectors in the districts having Godavari and Krishna river basins on high alert in view of the above normal rainfall forecast during the monsoon season.
Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy directed the district collectors to take steps in advance to prevent loss of lives and property in the event of heavy rains. The administration should be ready with steps in advance to avoid damages rather than taking relief and rehabilitation works after the calamity strikes.
Report on disaster management mechanism
The State Government has constituted a high-level committee with the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) commissioner, Fire Services director general, Disaster Management commissioner and other senior officials to recommend measures for strengthening the disaster management mechanism and for taking steps to check the impact of floods in the affected areas on the lines of Hyderabad. The committee is likely to submit its report within a week, and necessary action will be initiated on the recommendations made by the panel, he said at a video conference with district collectors on Thursday (June 12, 2025).
The Minister recalled that monsoon entered the State 15 days in advance and said the district collectors should ensure effective coordination with the departments concerned to minimise the damages in the event of heavy rains/floods. Officials should also factor in the heavy flooding witnessed in July, August and September months and should prepare effective plans to meet any eventuality.
Identify people residing in river flow areas
Accordingly, the administration should identify people residing in the river flow areas and shift them to Indiramma houses on a permanent basis. Floods in Godavari river resulted in damages last year and the officials concerned should be prepared if similar situation recurs this season. In the process, they should adopt measures in line with the changing times rather than depending on the traditional disaster management methods.
He wanted user IDs of the district collectors should be given to the integrated command control centre enabling officials concerned to send alerts in advance. The collectors on their part were instructed to be ready with action plans based on the experiences/conditions in their respective districts before June 30.
Published – June 12, 2025 05:05 PM is
