Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday chaired a high-level review meeting at the Chief Secretariat in Patna to assess the state’s preparedness for floods and droughts.
The meeting, attended by ministers, officials and district authorities via video conferencing, focused on the implementation of precautionary and relief measures in light of the upcoming monsoon season.
The Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary of the Disaster Management Department, Pratyaya Amrit, presented rainfall forecasts from the Bihar Mausam Seva Kendra. According to the briefing, June is expected to witness below-normal rainfall, while July to September are predicted to receive normal precipitation overall.
In a detailed presentation, Amrit outlined the pre-disaster readiness measures aligned with the state’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). These include the distribution of polythene sheets, stockpiling of relief materials and medicines, provisioning of animal fodder, operational readiness of boats, establishment of flood shelters and community kitchens, and activation of District Emergency Operation Centres. He also highlighted Bihar’s model community kitchen initiative, which has been praised at the national level.
CM Nitish emphasized that disaster-hit populations must be prioritised. “Disaster victims have the first right on the state treasury,” he said, urging officials to remain vigilant and responsive. He underscored that his administration had transformed disaster response in Bihar since taking office in 2005, citing significant relief efforts during the 2007 floods and the 2008 Kosi tragedy.
Nitish recalled that financial support for affected families has steadily improved, with the ex-gratia grant increased to Rs 7,000 in 2023. He reaffirmed the Rs 4 lakh compensation for families of those who die during floods or similar disasters.
The Chief Minister instructed district magistrates and departmental heads to complete all preparatory work by the end of May, including repairs to damaged roads, embankment fortification, and arrangements for healthcare and clean drinking water. He directed officials to ensure prompt assistance for farmers in case of crop damage and to assess local needs by visiting vulnerable areas.
Cautioning against complacency amid changing weather patterns, CM Nitish called on ministers and secretaries in charge of districts to monitor the ground situation and report back by early June with action plans. “If everyone remains engaged with alertness, people will get timely relief,” he said.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, alongside ministers from departments including Water Resources, Energy, Health, Animal Husbandry, and Disaster Management. Senior officials from the police, NDRF, SDRF, and Bihar Mausam Seva Kendra were also present.
District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police across Bihar participated via video conferencing.
