Dehradun: As the monsoon arrived in Uttarakhand, residents of Maldevta on the outskirts of Dehradun said they felt better prepared to face heavy rainfall this year, citing a series of flood protection measures undertaken after last Sept’s devastating flash floods. The floods had washed away roads and bridges, cut off villages and caused extensive damage along the Song river.Officials in the Dehradun district administration said retaining walls had been constructed along vulnerable stretches of the river on the Dehradun side ahead of the monsoon. River dredging, stone pitching and the construction of a new bridge have also been undertaken over the past year to reduce flood risk.“We are much better prepared this time. The authorities have built new retaining walls along the river and carried out dredging work. Stone pitching has also been done near the new bridge under construction. When the first flash flood comes, these measures should absorb much of the impact and help protect the nearby village,” said a farm owner in Maldevta.However, he cautioned that concerns remained upstream. “The main problem lies further upstream. There has been a lot of encroachment along the river, which has narrowed its channel. As the river narrows, the speed of the water increases, raising the risk during heavy rainfall,” he said.Ajay Ramola, a local shopkeeper, said, “The area appeared to be better prepared than last year. A new bridge is also being built because the existing Maldevta bridge cannot bear the load of heavy vehicles and machinery required for the construction of the Song dam further along this route.”While several flood mitigation projects have progressed over the past year, some works remain incomplete. An old bridge towards Tehri, damaged during the Sept floods, was rebuilt in Jan. However, according to Jaunpur block senior deputy chief JK Uniyal, river dredging on the Tehri side has yet to be completed despite the deadline having passed.“River dredging on the Baandal riverbed, ordered by the Tehri administration, is still incomplete. The contractor was required to clear the accumulated sediment by June 30, but the work is far from finished. They remove the boulders but leave behind the silt and other debris. This area faces disasters almost every other year. In 2022, houses along the Baandal were also damaged. The dredging work should be completed on priority before heavy rainfall intensifies,” Uniyal said.