The Odisha government has committed to install telemetric rain gauges in every gramme panchayat, automatic weather stations at block headquarters, and sensors in river systems in order to improve impact-based forecasting.
According to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, these actions will enable the state to obtain exact real-time information for more efficient disaster management.
This was mentioned by Patnaik during a local event held to commemorate National Day for Disaster Reduction and Odisha Disaster Preparedness Day.
Every year, people commemorate the priceless lives lost in the 1999 Super Cyclone by observing this day.
The Odisha government has made every effort to make the state safer during catastrophes in the 23 years after the Super Cyclone, he claimed.
“The most reliable infrastructure for disaster management is now found in Odisha. Our efforts over the years have been recognised by the entire world. In order to create an Odisha that is disaster-resistant, I would like to thank my 4.5 billion brothers and sisters “the Chief Minister stated.
He commended the efforts of members of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Mission Shakti, as well as those of front-line workers such as ASHAs and anganwadis, NGOs, and community volunteers. He also thanked the government officials, the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), the fire services, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and police personnel for their coordinated efforts to lessen human casualties.
He said that floods in the Mahanadi, Baitarani, and Subarnarekha river systems occurred in the state in 2022 and affected more than 23 lakh people in 16 districts.
He noted that the state had swiftly implemented relief and restoration measures and had relocated almost 2.7 lakh people to safer locations as a result of its thorough planning and coordinated efforts.
“We are vulnerable to natural calamities because of where we are located. Every life has value. Super Cyclone 1999 claimed the lives of close to 10,000 people. Back then, we lacked safe houses. Through the Chief Ministers’ Relief Fund (SMRF), 815 multipurpose cyclone and flood shelters have been built during this time, and another 55 are being built “added he.
According to Patnaik, his government is informally training more than 40,000 volunteers at the village and shelter levels to improve community-driven preparedness. Additionally, he noted, the government is working to develop the skills of elected PRI representatives, members of urban local bodies (ULBs), Mission Shakti, ASHAs, Anganwadi workers, and Vana Surakhya Samiti (VSS) members.
To prepare disaster management “yodhas” in every village and home, disaster and pandemic management is also being included into the educational curricula for pupils from standard 4 to graduation level, according to Patnaik.
On this occasion, he made a call for all residents and stakeholders to step forward and work with the government to build an Odisha that is resilient to disasters.
Prasanta Patnaik