22 Odisha dists yet to prepare disaster mitigation plan

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, May 27:

With the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting monsoon to hit Odisha coast by the end of this month, as many as 22 districts have not convened District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) meetings and yet to prepare District Disaster Management Plans (DDMP) to tackle pre-monsoon and post-monsoon disasters.

 Prior to the onset of monsoon, Special Relief Commissioner GVV Sharma on Tuesday reviewed the district-level preparedness to deal with natural calamities arising during south-west monsoon.

Expressing his dissatisfaction over lax preparedness, Sharma directed the concerned authorities to conclude District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) meetings and chalk-out the District Disaster Management Plans by June 5.

The review meeting was held under the chairmanship of Special Relief Commissioner and attended by sub-collectors and District Emergency Officers across the state.

The meeting discussed about repair of breaches in the canal embankments, maintaining stock of essential commodities during floods, monitoring of river embankments, availability of food stuffs in remote areas, establishing temporary wireless stations at flood-prone areas, drinking water facility, identifying flood shelters and restoration of electricity, road connectivity, telecommunication and other essential services post floods.

The officials also sought data on the number of mechanised boats and country-made boats. They asked the concerned officials to make agreements with domestic boat owners so that they can be used during emergency situations.

Besides, the district administrations have been directed to operationalise the District Emergency Operation centres and other control rooms.

The civil society organisations, non-government organisations and Panchayati Raj institutions have to be trained much ahead of flood-like situation who would assist in the relief and rescue operations during real-time missions.

ADG (Law & Order) Binayananda Jha and ADG (Fire Services and Home Guards) M Nageswar Rao informed about the deployment and co-ordination of ODRAF, fire services and NDRF in the flood-affected areas.

“The breaches in the embankments have been repaired and the essential commodities have been made to deal with flood situations,” said Chief Engineer & Basin Manager (LMB), S Das.