Tripura govt initiates steps for disaster management

Agartala, Aug 17 (UNI) Tripura government has taken several initiatives to tackle the post earthquake situations in the state.

Experiments have already been carried out in few government office buildings in this regard, the officials said.

The steps taken were nessesary as the state falls in the seismic zone. "We do not want to take any risk and hence every possible measures had been taken," said the officials.

To protect the state from any such calamity, the state government has started purchasing necessary machineries, needed in rescue operations, like concrete cutter, gas cutter, powerful lights and hydrolic platform, they added The responsibility of the purchase of such equipment had been entrusted upon the Fire Service department, official sources said.

Items like tents and folded cloth water tanks worth 33 lakhs had been purchased from the Ordnance factory and in various parts of the state, the sources informed.

About 33 helipads had been constructed in 40 blocks ,besides, the government had decided to construct few on areas adjoining the National Highway, the government officials said.

"Twenty sattelite phones would also be purchased for direct communication in case of emergency," informed the officials.

17 department buildings of the state government, known as life line buildings, are under 'vulnerability examination' to check their strength to withstand such disasters.

The Public Works Department (PWD) has been entrusted with the job to carry out testing of the vulnerable buildings which includes government hospitals, fire service department, and water supply department, they further informed.

UNI PB/PD PP RN1613