The Odisha government has announced its decision to repair 812 multi-purpose cyclone and flood shelters this year, with an allocation of Rs 6 lakh for the repair of each shelter.
The total expenditure for this initiative will be Rs 48.72 crore, as informed by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari in the Assembly today.
During the question session, MLA Sarada Prasanna Jena raised concerns about the dilapidated condition of many shelters in the state. Minister Pujari acknowledged that several cyclone shelters are already undergoing repairs. Currently, Odisha has 909 flood and cyclone shelters, with 600 serving as multi-purpose cyclone shelters and 309 as multi-purpose flood shelters. Pujari highlighted that many of these infrastructures have remained unused and unmaintained for a long time.
BJP MLA Bhashkar Madhei questioned the construction of cyclone shelters in Sainkul, while Puri MLA Sunil Mohanty sought clarification on the repairs of cyclone shelters. BJD MLA Pratap Deb criticized the previous government for not expediting the work on announced cyclone shelters and questioned why 52 projects had not been implemented.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition Sachetak Pratap Deb asked the Revenue Minister to reveal the reasons behind these delays. In response, Minister Pujari explained that while the previous government had made several decisions, they were not implemented. The previous administration had announced the construction of 52 cyclone shelters but had not processed the necessary paperwork. The lack of available funds from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund further delayed the projects.
The current BJP government has committed to building 500 flood and cyclone shelters, out of which 52 will be constructed. The government has also informed the Finance Commission about these plans. Minister Pujari assured that the BJP government would complete the unfinished projects left by the previous administration.
This initiative is a significant step towards enhancing the state’s disaster management infrastructure and ensuring the safety and welfare of its citizens.
