Agartala’s Flood Project Wins First Prize at IAS Training Programme
The Agartala flood mitigation project, which aimed to solve severe waterlogging issues during the rainy season, has won the first prize at the IAS Training Programme. The event was held at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, from June 18 to July 13 this year.
83 IAS officers from 23 different cadre states, spanning batches from 2000 to 2009, participated in the programme. They were required to submit a case study. Kiran Gitte, an IAS officer from the 2005 batch of the Tripura cadre, submitted a case study on the flood mitigation measures in Agartala City, based on his tenure as Secretary of Urban Development and Chairman of Agartala Smart City from 2019 to 2022.
The project focused on addressing severe waterlogging issues during the rainy season through various initiatives, including the installation of drainage pumps, diesel-operated pumps, underground pipelines, mechanised cleaning of drains, construction of new drains, sluice gates, and 24/7 real-time monitoring via the Integrated Command and Control Centre of Agartala Smart City. As a result of these efforts, the average waterlogging time in Agartala was reduced from 2-3 days to less than one hour, even after heavy rainfall of up to 150 mm.
This case study was awarded the first prize among the 83 submissions during the training course at LBSNAA in Mussoorie.
Flood Situation in Assam
Meanwhile, Assam continues to be battered by floods, affecting thousands of people across the state. Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently held discussions with the Chief Ministers of Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat in separate telephonic conversations on Monday.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), 97 people have died during this year’s flood in the state so far. The flood situation is improving across the state and the water levels of the rivers are also receding, but 3.55 lakh people in 14 districts are still affected by the deluge. 823 villages under 37 revenue circles are still under water.
Doubts Revealed
Agartala -: Agartala is the capital city of the Indian state of Tripura. It is located in the northeastern part of India.
Flood Mitigation -: Flood mitigation means taking steps to reduce the damage caused by floods. This can include building barriers, improving drainage systems, and other measures to control water flow.
IAS Officer -: An IAS officer is a member of the Indian Administrative Service, which is a part of the civil services in India. They help run the government and implement policies.
Kiran Gitte -: Kiran Gitte is the name of the IAS officer who led the flood mitigation project in Agartala. He worked to reduce the waterlogging problem in the city.
IAS Training Programme -: The IAS Training Programme is a special course where new IAS officers are trained. They learn about their duties and how to manage different situations.
LBSNAA -: LBSNAA stands for Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration. It is a training institute for IAS officers located in Mussoorie, India.
Waterlogging -: Waterlogging happens when water stays on the ground for a long time, making it difficult for people to move around. It often happens after heavy rains.
Assam -: Assam is a state in northeastern India. It is known for its tea gardens and the Brahmaputra River.
Union Home Minister -: The Union Home Minister is a high-ranking official in the Indian government responsible for internal security and domestic policy. Amit Shah is the current Union Home Minister.
Chief Ministers -: Chief Ministers are the heads of the government in each Indian state. They are responsible for running the state and implementing policies.
Uttar Pradesh -: Uttar Pradesh is a state in northern India. It is the most populous state in the country.
Gujarat -: Gujarat is a state in western India. It is known for its rich culture and history.
3.55 lakh -: 3.55 lakh means 355,000. In India, ‘lakh’ is a term used to represent 100,000.
