With the shadow of El Niño looming over this year’s monsoon, Odisha’s Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today chaired the State Level Natural Disaster Management Committee (SLNDMC) meeting and sent a clear message: the state’s world-renowned disaster management system will remain fully battle-ready.
Speaking at the Convention Centre of Lok Seva Bhawan, the Chief Minister stressed that Odisha’s “full-proof” disaster management framework — already admired globally — must be preserved and strengthened further. He directed every department to work together under a “Whole of Government Approach” to tackle the likely deficient rainfall and protect farmers during the Kharif season.
“Our resolve is simple and non-negotiable — Zero Casualty. There will be zero tolerance for any laxity in disaster management,” CM Majhi asserted.
The meeting reviewed Odisha’s impressive track record. During the recent cyclones Dana and Montha, the timely evacuation of nearly 38,000 people from 11 affected districts, coordinated deployment of 33 ODRAF teams, 5 NDRF units and 123 fire services ensured zero loss of life.
The Chief Minister noted that Odisha’s long-term disaster mitigation model was recently praised by BRICS member nations at the technical meeting held in Puri.
Key Decisions:
- ₹6 lakh per shelter has been sanctioned for the annual maintenance of all 911 multi-purpose cyclone shelters across the state. This will ensure drinking water, lighting and cooking facilities are ready before any emergency.
- The Agriculture Department has been asked to prepare a comprehensive Contingency Plan to safeguard crops and farmers’ interests amid possible El Niño impact.
- A robust state-level monitoring mechanism is already tracking rainfall, water levels, crop planning and fertiliser supply. District collectors have been directed to stock nano urea and strictly prevent black marketing of fertilisers through inspection committees in every panchayat.
- Accurate information will be pushed through social media and mobile platforms to counter rumours during crises. The 24×7 emergency control room, 112 helpline and Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) via SMS remain fully operational.
- Unseasonal rainfall (Adinia Barsa) has been declared a State-Specific Disaster, enabling faster relief for affected farmers.
The state currently has 20 fully equipped ODRAF teams and 347 modernised fire stations. Ten new ODRAF units are in the process of being raised.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari briefed the meeting on the effective use of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for immediate relief and restoration works. MLAs and MPs shared ground-level feedback from their constituencies, which the Chief Minister assured would be incorporated into future planning.
“Disaster management in Odisha is not just a government responsibility — it is a collective mission of the government and the people,” CM Majhi said, reiterating that protecting lives and livelihoods remains the top priority.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, senior ministers, legislators, the Chief Secretary, Development Commissioner and senior officials.
