With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting surplus rainfall during the current monsoon, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday directed all departments and the district Collectors to remain fully prepared to tackle possible floods in the State.

“The IMD has predicted surplus rainfall during the current year 2016. Therefore, a probability of flood this year appears very high. Keeping this in view, we have to remain in full state of preparedness to encounter any flood situation,” said Patnaik while presiding over a State-level natural calamity meeting held at the State Secretariat here.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Bijayshree Routray, leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra, almost all Ministers, MPs and MlAs participated in the meeting.

Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra and departmental Secretaries brief the Chief Minister about the steps taken by various departments.

The Chief Minister directed various line departments like Water Resources, Civil Supplies and Consumer Welfare and Health and Family Welfare to remain alert in their respective areas to successfully meet the challenge.

Stating that the State had experienced various natural disasters, including a severe drought last year in which more than 29,000 villages in 23 blocks of 27 districts were affected, Patnaik said the Government has taken a number of steps to manage the drought situation.

“The Government has provided Rs826 crore to the district Collectors for disbursement of agriculture input subsidy to the affected farmers and asked them to complete disbursement by the end of July this year,” he added.