Chairing a State Disaster Management Committee meeting on Wednesday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik stressed the need for community participation in disaster management and asked officials to ensure people’s participation in the disaster-prone areas.
He also reiterated his Government’s decision to educate students, Government employees and people’s representatives to build a disaster-resilient society.
“As the south-west monsoon is effective now, the time between the months from June to October is very crucial as all kinds of natural disasters such as cyclones and floods occur during this period,” he pointed out. Patnaik said that after a thorough review of the preparedness plan, the entire administration should get ready to face all eventualities of disasters. The administration should be fully equipped with rescue and relief plans, prior information dissemination, drinking water supply, public healthcare and fodder for cattle. The ODRAF and Fire Services units should be on high alert.
He directed that all departmental and district-level control rooms be kept open 24 hours and special attention should be on vulnerable population like pregnant women, widows, differently-abled, children and the elderly.
Patnaik said that despite the effects of Covid-19, Odisha has been appreciated globally for its effective disaster exercise as the State always works on the mandate ‘Every life is precious’ and a ‘whole-of-Government approach’. It guides the State to minimise the impact. "Odisha is one of the most disaster-stricken States in our country and we are witnessing recurring natural disasters in frequent intervals. The climate change has further worsened the extreme climatic events,” he said. During 2020-21, Odisha has successfully faced two very severe cyclones like Amphan and Yaas for its early preparedness. “My Government is trying to make foolproof cyclone-resilient infrastructure in coastal areas, but it requires a huge amount of money. We have already apprised the Union Government on these,” said Patnaik.
At the beginning of the meeting, Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari placed a detailed account of the State’s disaster preparedness plan. Among others, Brahmapur MP Chandrasekhar Sahu, Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra, Puri MLA Jayant Sarangi, Aul MLA Pratap Keshari Deb and Bhograi MLA Anant Das participated in the meeting.