Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi chaired the State Natural Disaster Committee meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar today and took many important steps to ensure ‘Zero Casualty’ due to natural disasters in Odisha.
Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan and other ministers, MPs and MLAs were present in the meeting.
Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Development Commissioner Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary to Odisha CM, Nikunj Bihari Dhal and other senior officials were present. Satyabrat Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department delivered the welcome address.
After hearing the views of the committee members, the Chief Minister directed the Irrigation Department to take steps on a wartime basis to immediately repair the weak river banks and breaches created in the past in the state.
The Urban Development Department has been directed to desilt the drains in the urban areas and regulate proper water drainage systems to address flooding in the urban areas due to heavy rains.
The Odisha CM has directed the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation to prepare a plan with a budget of Rs 200 crore for urban flood management and submit the proposal as soon as possible.
In addition to this, a long-term plan will be prepared with the technical support of IIT Delhi to manage flooding in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and other urban areas, he said.
A 24-hour control room will be made functional in state, district and other offices. The chief minister directed the health department to stock anti-snake venom in all health centres as there is a high chance of snakebites on rainy days.
Steps will be taken so that the public can be given advance information about various calamities through the alert on the mobile app and awareness about this app will be created among the public, Majhi added
The Chief Minister said that ODRAF is the first state-level Disaster Response Force in the state and it is also the best at the all-India level. ODRAF has brought fame to Odisha for successful search and rescue operations during various calamities within and outside the state. He said that steps will be taken by the Home Department to increase the ODRAF units from 20 to and make it a ‘Dedicated Force’.
Similarly, the fire department is the first responder to any disaster at the district level. Rs 394 crores from the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) are being spent to increase the capacity of the fire department while another Rs 200 crore rupees has been earmarked for the same, the Odisha CM added.
CM Majhi said that arrangements will be made to make 5 Regional Fire Service Hubs operational immediately in view of various disasters like the Bahanaga train tragedy.
In view of possible floods this year, the Chief Minister advised the Special Relief Commissioner to coordinate with all the departments and take steps to reduce the damage caused by disasters.
“As Southwest Monsoon will remain active in the entire state till October, there is a possibility of heavy rainfall, floods, and storms for our state. So this time is important for all of us… We need to do a proper review of disaster preparedness to deal with floods and storms and the administration has to be vigilant to deal with the situation at the field level,” he said.
“Appropriate measures need to be taken in the areas of early warning, relief and rescue operations, drinking water supply, health system, veterinary treatment etc. ODRAF and fire brigade should always be alert for quick action,” he added.
“Adequate food and fodder must be available in inaccessible areas. Adequate dry food and supplies must also be stored in all shelters. Even pregnant mothers, children and the sick/elderly will be given special attention. The control room will be active 24 hours in various departments, districts and blocks,” the Odisha CM said.
Urgent steps will be taken in relief and rescue operations. Appropriate medical treatment will be arranged along with first aid to the injured. He said that after a disaster, the damage assessment will be carried out and immediate assistance will be provided to the affected people.
He suggested that all the people of the state should keep themselves updated about the possible disasters in their area and also be vigilant for disaster management at the gram panchayat level.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari conducted the programme. MPs, MLAs and other members gave their views in the meeting.
