BY THE ARUSHA NEWS REPORTER
ARUSHA Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Amos Makalla, has directed security and disaster-management authorities across the region to strengthen preparedness for the predicted heavy rains next month that shall be associated with El Niño conditions.
Mr Makalla was speaking during a recent meeting in Karatu with members of the Arusha Regional Security Committee, together with the security committees from Karatu and Ngorongoro districts as well as officials from the tourist attraction, Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA).
Mr Makalla instructed district authorities and disaster-management committees to identify areas considered vulnerable to flooding, landslides and other rainfall-related emergencies and to put in place the appropriate response measures.
Also, the meeting placed special attention on infrastructure serving tourism areas, with the Tanzania Roads Agency (TANROADS), the Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA), Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) and NCAA told to inspect bridges, drainage systems and other infrastructure to ensure roads were accessible throughout.
Arusha is one of Tanzania’s leading tourism regions and receives large numbers of visitors travelling to major attractions including the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti, Lake Manyara and Tarangire.
Weather forecasts have indicated the possibility of heavy rainfall during the coming season, prompting authorities to intensify preparedness before conditions worsen.
