Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the situation which was created due to heavy rains in the State has been controlled through better management. The safety of the lives of the people is the top priority of the State Government. Teams of district administration, NDRF, SDERF are alert in the State and are keeping the situation under control. Instructions have been given to all the districts that pregnant women whose date of delivery is in the next two or three days, should be taken to hospitals and safer places on top priority. Chief Minister Chouhan was discussing virtually with the NIC of Narmadapuram regarding excessive rainfall and flood control from the districts of the State. Chouhan said that according to information received from the Meteorological Department, there is a possibility of more rain between August 19 and 23. Former Speaker of Vidhan Sabha Sitasaran Sharma was present in Narmadapuram. Water Resources Minister Tulsiram Silavat joined the meeting virtually. Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Bains, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Dr Rajesh Rajoura, Principal Secretary, Water Resources, S N Mishra virtually attended the meeting from Mantralaya Bhopal. Chief Minister Chouhan received information virtually about the districts of Vidisha, Sehore, Balaghat, Narmadapuram, Raisen, Bhopal, Rajgarh and Narsinghpur from the officials.

Chief Minister Chouhan said that the team of Madhya Pradesh is skilled in scientific method of disaster management in a scientific manner. An example of this is evident from the management of the Karam Dam disaster. As a result of better management, the catastrophic situation did not arise and we were successful in saving lives as well as animals. Chief Minister Chouhan congratulated the Meteorological Department, Water Resources, Narmada Valley Development, District Administration, SDERF and NDRF engaged in flood control and drainage system as a result of excessive rain.

Chief Minister Chouhan said that if the water of Bargi, Barna, Tawa and Kolar had been released simultaneously, then there could have been a situation of floods. With scientific disaster management with intelligence, drainage from the dams was systematically managed. When the gates of Tawa and Barna dams were open, the Bargi dam was closed. When the gates of Bargi are opened, Tawa and Barna gates will be closed. This scientific management has resulted in saving the area from critical condition. We have to keep doing this scientific disaster management continuously. With this, Madhya Pradesh will set an example in the country in disaster management, it has been decided t\o store 80 percent in dams, while 20 percent scope has been left. Appreciating the arrangements made by the districts, Chief Minister Chouhan said that people were shifted to higher places from places likely to be submerged. After inspecting the relief camp at Narmadapuram, Chief Minister Chouhan expressed satisfaction over the arrangements there. Chief Minister said that arrangements should be made for relief camps in all the districts. Along with this, the district administration should also work sensitively for the safety of animals.

Chief Minister Chouhan said that in disaster management, public representatives and representatives of newly-elected panchayats and urban bodies should be taken into confidence and their co-operation should be sought.

The situation of heavy rain and floods should be shared with the public through social media and other means of mass communication. This will help in alerting the general public and taking necessary precautions by them. Ideal co-ordination is essential in disaster management. Chief Minister Chouhan also instructed the districts to keep their information system strong. Chief Minister Chouhan directed the district administration to conduct tests of all dams, ponds and water structures in the area and said that in view of the continuous rainfall and the possibility of heavy rains in the coming days, inspection of water structures should be conducted with technical staff and the possibility of seepage etc. in them should be monitored. It should be ensured to monitor the dams daily for the next few days. Weather forecasts are not always accurate, so preparation is essential. The assessment of water discharge near the districts is already in place. Accordingly, all the departments should be ready to deal with any situation by co-ordinating with each other. The district administration should keep ration, medicines, boats, motorboats, divers, rescue teams, relief camps, NDRF, SDERF teams ready for relief. Chief Minister Chouhan directed to prepare a detailed action plan for the management and relief of excessive rain, focusing on the minutes points.