Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister Md Tajul Islam on Tuesday directed the local government department to open a control room to tackle cyclone 'Yaas'.
He also instructed the people's representatives and all government officials at the field level to be fully prepared, reports UNB.
He made the directives while addressing an emergency preparatory virtual meeting organized by the local government department to deal with cyclone 'Yaas' on Tuesday.
The minister said district councils, upazila councils, municipalities, union councils, people's representatives and other institutions of the local government department and other government institutions including district administrations play an important role in providing mental strength to the people in case of any calamity.
In this context, the Minister said, the people's representatives have a close relation with people of all classes and professions of the society. That is why public representatives play an important role in making people aware of disasters. It is possible to deal with any disaster if the people's representatives at all levels, the district administration and other government institutions sit together and prepare mentally.
Md. Tajul Islam said a control room has been opened in the local government department to take precautionary measures to deal with cyclone 'Yaas', to supervise and coordinate the preparations of the departments / agencies and local government institutions under the local government department (control room phone number- 9545415).
He directed the concerned authorities to keep in constant touch with this control room and other locally opened control rooms in the coastal areas to deal with any situation and cooperate.
Furthermore, he said there will be a severe water crisis in the coastal areas due to sudden tidal surges. Emergency water is to be supplied and the sanitation system is to be set ready in this regard. These activities are done generally by WASA, Local Government Engineering Department and Public Health Engineering Department. Therefore, these institutions have been asked to be ready to deal with the overall situation. Because these institutions play an effective role up to the grassroots.
The Minister also said the Department of Public Health Engineering has already prepared the necessary activities including a mobile water treatment plant, water purification tablets, and a sanitation system.
At the same time, he expressed hope that the country would reach the peak of development by tackling any disaster including cyclone 'Yaas'.
Senior secretary of local government department Helaluddin Ahmed, senior officials of local government department, mayors of Khulna, Chittagong and Barisal city corporations, deputy commissioners of coastal districts, chief engineer of local government engineering department and public health engineering department and managing director of Khulna WASA were present at the meeting and informed the minister about their preparations.