Mangaluru: Karnataka Minister U.T. Khader has warned that engineers of the concerned departments will be held directly responsible if accidents caused by potholes during the rainy season lead to loss of lives.
Addressing the District Disaster Management Committee meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Mangaluru, Khader expressed strong displeasure over the status of road repair works and directed officials to ensure immediate action.
He instructed authorities to focus on permanent road repairs instead of temporary measures such as merely filling potholes. In the interest of public safety, officials must go beyond routine procedures and take prompt steps during emergency situations, he said.
Reviewing monsoon preparedness, the minister directed all departments to work in coordination to handle possible natural disasters. He asked MESCOM officials to take special precautions to prevent incidents involving damaged electric poles and exposed wires during heavy rains.
Khader instructed officials to deploy additional linemen and emergency vehicles for faster restoration of power supply during outages. He also directed local bodies to immediately undertake rescue and evacuation measures if floods or fallen trees disrupt road connectivity.
To strengthen disaster management at the grassroots level, the minister ordered the appointment of separate nodal officers for each gram panchayat in the district. He stressed that local organisations and the public must be involved in relief operations.
Khader said the district administration should remain fully prepared to tackle monsoon-related challenges and ensure the safety of citizens.
