Mandi Municipal Corporation Holds Key Meeting on Disaster Response and Development; Focus on Inter-Departmental Coordination and Emergency Preparedness.
Shimla:
A general meeting of the Mandi Municipal Corporation was convened on Thursday under the chairmanship of Mayor Virender Bhatt Sharma, focusing on urgent disaster management measures, infrastructure repair, and ongoing development projects across the city.
The meeting began on a solemn note with a two-minute silence observed in memory of the three residents who tragically lost their lives in a recent disaster in Ward No. 8, Palace Colony. Members of the House extended their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
Disaster Relief and Infrastructure Repairs in Focus
Executive Engineer Dharmendrer Verma from the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD) briefed the Corporation on ongoing relief operations in flood and landslide-affected areas, assuring members that the work is progressing steadily.
Mayor Sharma raised concerns about the severe shortage of technical staff within the Corporation. To ensure continuity of essential services, it was decided that technical tasks would be executed with support from allied departments such as the Rural Development Department, HPPWD, and HIMUDA. Additionally, the Corporation resolved to begin demarcation of all city drains to streamline regular maintenance and reduce blockages.
Hazard Removal, Drainage, and Power Safety Measures
In a critical directive, officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) were ordered to immediately remove dangerous overhanging rocks near the Khaliyar area and Old Mandi Bridge to prevent future accidents. They were also instructed to expedite repairs of potholes, culverts, and stormwater drains under their jurisdiction.
The HP State Electricity Board (HPSEB) was tasked with addressing dangerously sagging and hanging power lines crisscrossing the city. Responding to this concern, the Assistant Engineer informed the House that a project worth Rs. 20–25 crore has been sanctioned to lay both Low Tension (LT) and High Tension (HT) power lines underground. Installation of new transformers will also be undertaken to improve the safety and reliability of the city’s power supply.
Water Management and Sanitation Initiatives
The Jal Shakti Department received directives to promptly clear pipes and debris obstructing nalas and city drains. Sewerage chambers across the city will be cleaned using pressure-based equipment. In preparation for future emergencies, the Corporation will also explore tapping into natural water sources.
As part of the Swachh Bharat Mission, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) was approved for the installation of sludge-removal pumps in Indira Market. Sewerage development projects in the Sanyardh and Bijni areas were also discussed.
Skill-Based Collaboration and Emergency Equipment Proposal
In an innovative move under the “Kaushal Aapke Dwar” (Skills at Your Doorstep) initiative, the Corporation will partner with ITI Mandi to carry out welding and streetlight repairs across the city.
Looking ahead, the Corporation will submit a formal proposal to the State Executive Committee requesting disaster response equipment. The list includes hydraulic cutters, stretchers, headlamps, flashlights, portable generators, pneumatic lifts, and brush cutters. These are to be procured through the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to strengthen Mandi’s local disaster response capabilities.
Deputy Mayor Madhuri Kapoor, along with councillors Alaknanda Handa, Sumesh Upadhyay, Rajender Mohan, Yograj, Sudesh Kumari, Hardeep Singh, Suman Thakur, Neha Kumari, Nirmal Verma, Deepali Jaswal, Krishan Bhanu, Anjay Kumari, Dinesh Patial, Yashankat Kashyap, Darshan Thakur, Nitin Bhatia, and Sanjay Sharma actively participated in the meeting.
Municipal Commissioner Rohit Rathour, Additional Commissioner Vijay Kumar, Assistant Engineer Naresh, Section Officer Rakesh Guleria, and other senior officials were also present, contributing to the discussions and presenting updates.
The session concluded with a collective commitment to strengthening inter-departmental coordination, accelerating development works, and enhancing the city’s disaster preparedness. The Mandi Municipal Corporation reaffirmed its resolve to address infrastructure gaps and build resilience against future natural calamities through unified action and strategic planning.
