As far as the trend of rising H3N2 Flu and COVID cases are concerned, it was decided that though not mandatorily, protocols like masking, physical distancing, hand hygiene and sanitation, preparedness of hospitals, etc. needed to be followed to the farthest possible extent
NEW DELHI: In the wake of the disastrous earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Saturday directed the officials to retrofit all Schools, Hospitals, Police Stations, other critical government offices and vulnerable buildings as per the Earthquake Resilient Building Code. However, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on his part stressed upon the need to compile and tabulate all reports/recommendations of different committees constituted from time to time with regards to mitigation of disasters and thereafter affects and also underlined the need to make government offices like the Delhi Secretariat and Police Headquarter, earthquake resistant through retrofitting.
The directions came during the 38th meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) held under the chairmanship of Delhi LG Saxena. Manny senior dignitaries including Delhi CM, Revenue Minister Kailash Gehlot apart from the Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, Special Commissioner (Police), Divisional Commissioner, Secretary (Health) were also present.
According to the official sources, the LG outlined and asked for works to be started several projects in a time bound manner including Identifying Open spaces across the Capital for rescue operations in the event of an earthquake.
Apart from this, Identifying Hospitals at the level of every District and Sub Division for emergency response, broadening of narrow lanes and by lanes to ensure access for ambulances, fire tenders and rescue teams in event of an emergency. Establishing connectivity with Railway Telephone Network so as to ensure communication in case of other means collapsing.
“During the meeting, the LG took stock of the preparedness and deliberated upon charting and augmenting the way forward, in case of an earthquake in the City, which fell in the ‘High Damage Risk Zone IV’ on the seismic map of India. The prevalent situation of H3N2 Flu, H1N1 Flu and COVID 19 were also discussed,” they said.
“Stressing that disasters did not give prior information before manifesting themselves, Saxena emphasized upon the need to be completely prepared to face eventuality, even if it entailed erring on the side of caution. Recounting his experience of the Gujarat earthquake that had caused widespread destruction, Shri Saxena said that Delhi needed to be fully prepared to handle any disaster and preparations to this effect should be put in place from today itself,” they said.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), also pointed out that all other States had put into place their own State Disaster Relief Forces (SDRFs) to work in tandem with the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), and Delhi was yet to effectively do so. NDMA urged the DDMA to expeditiously get a Delhi SDRF constituted, sources stated.
They said that the matter of a proper office/building to locate the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), yet not being fully available was also flagged in the meeting and a decision was taken to address the same in a time bound manner.
“It was also informed that ‘Aapda Mitra’ Scheme of enrolling and training Disaster Relief Volunteers had been rolled out in Delhi and 1800 Volunteers had been trained and enrolled till now. It was agreed upon by DDMA to augment the number of Volunteers, train them and make information about them readily available on the Websites of DDMA at all levels, for access by people in need of any assistance during a disaster,” they informed.
“As far as the trend of rising H3N2 Flu and COVID cases are concerned, it was decided that though not mandatorily, protocols like masking, physical distancing, hand hygiene and sanitation, preparedness of hospitals, etc. needed to be followed to the farthest possible extent,” sources added.
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