By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: With Odisha facing the onslaught of natural disaster at a regular interval, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has urged officials to prepared with Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to tackle natural disasters.
The Chief Minister said the flood-prone regions have been identified and 15 VHF centres have been installed to embark on preparedness to save life during floods. Patnaik said we are learning from past disasters and make efforts to bring improvement in our preparation for possible calamity and added subsequent preparedness always helps us.
The video conferencing was attended by ministers, Leader of the Opposition, MPs, and MLAs. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Sudam Marndi informed the officials on various measures undertaken by the government to tackle disasters like COVID, Amphan, and Bulbul.
Patnaik emphasized on advance planning, quick rescue, and restoration effort to deal with natural calamities. He was chairing a meeting of the State-level Natural Disaster Committee through video conferencing on Friday.
The Odisha CM said that there is a need to review our preparedness regularly in view of these disasters period from June till October. It is very crucial since during this period natural disasters like floods, cyclones, droughts can take place. The government has opened control rooms from June 1 till November 30 to monitor floods and natural disasters, he added.
He said out of 879 cyclone relief centre, 796 were repaired to cope with natural disasters. Community-based management has been also very helpful for coronavirus management, Patnaik said and added that the deadly virus has devastated the life of the people in the state.
CM said Odisha’s preparedness should be dynamic, holistic & participatory with advanced preparation, long term mitigation, fast recovery forming core principles. CM highlighted that Odisha is one of the pioneer in institutionalising community based preparation.
CM highlighted that the community based response has been greatly helpful in managing COVID19. CM said that the time between June and October will be crucial and directed departments and functionaries to follow the time tested principles to deal with disasters.
CM advised to remain prepared for the ensuing monsoon despite preoccupation with COVID19 challenge. Preparedness measures have already been taken including setting up of control rooms, stocking up of essential commodities, repairing of multi-purpose flood and cyclone shelters.
