Odisha Govt To Further Strengthen Disaster Management Mechanism

Bhubaneswar: With international accolades in disaster management, State Government is now on move for further strengthening of the State’s disaster management capacity with modern equipment and training for the front line units.

This was decided in the State Executive Committee meeting held on digital mode under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra. Development Commissioner and Special Relief Commissioner (SRC)  Pradeep Kumar Jena outlined the issues for discussion.

Considering the changing climatic scenario, the committee decided to further strengthen the disaster management capacity of the State with the latest modern equipment and intensive training to the front line organizations like Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force ( ODRAF) and Fire Service Units.

Chief Secretary Mahapatra directed the Housing and Urban Development department to remove the encroachments on drains and keep those properly widened and linked for smooth passage of rain/stormwater.  He also directed to enhance the in-house capacity for instant urban flood management. It was decided to have more modern relief and rescue equipments including the support for drinking water supply and water evacuation during the disasters.

Further,Mahapatra directed to build more flood shelters in flood-prone areas. The department was asked to identify the flood-prone villages having insufficient flood/cyclone shelters so that people could be housed there during natural calamities. More number of flood shelters would also be helpful in providing emergent relief to the people of the marooned villages. It was also decided to strengthen and heighten the flood embankments in the vulnerable areas like Bari, Dhamnagar, Gop and other riverside villages as a permanent measure.

Discussions revealed that around Rs. 400 crore would be invested for sharpening the teeth of the disaster management system, and empowering the front line organs engaged in mitigating  impact of the disasters. Development Commissioner Jena asked the departments to submit utilization certificates against the SRC grants already released to them for relief, repair,  restoration,  and distribution of various assistances to the people.

The proposal for Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA ) was discussed in the meeting. It was decided that a quick PDNA against the last heavy rain and flood would be conducted. After proper assessment of the needs, additional support would be mobilized for long term recovery, reconstruction, recovery and future damage reduction.  SRC Jena appraised that the PDNA would be conducted in collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority and National Institute of Disaster Management.   The sectors like housing and resettlement, protection of civic amenities including the health and educational infra, drinking water, local critical infrastructure needs like roads, bridges etc. would be the principal themes for PDNA. Chief Secretary Mahapatra directed to complete PDNA in about a month.

Director General of Police Sunil Bansal, Additional Chief Secretary and SRC P.K. Jena, Additional Chief Secretary Water Resources Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary Home Sanjeev Chopra, Additional Chief Secretary Revenue and Disaster Management Satyabrata Sahu, Principal Secretary Finance  Vishal Kumar Dev, Principal Secretary Rural Development and Information and Public Relations  Sanjay Kumar Singh,  Principal Secretary Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water  Sunil Kumar Lohani along with senior officers of concerned departments participated in the deliberations.