‘Better Centre-state coordination key to facing disasters’

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Sep 30:

The need for better Centre-State coordination during natural calamities like cyclones and floods was stressed at a high level meeting on disaster preparedness held at the Odisha state secretariat here today.

“At the time of preparation for cyclone, the need is for all of us to come together as a team, sit with the officers of the state government to see what are the issues that we can handle in advance. What are the issues of coordination? Have we discussed these issues with concerned state government officials? Have we collected information on what kind of assistance and support the state government expects from us and on how we can handle issues of coordination?” said R K Jain, member secretary, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) briefing newsmen here after the meeting.

“We also discussed how we can be better prepared to handle or respond to likely situations,” he added.

“We have a battalion of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) stationed in the state. It is because Odisha is important since there are frequent situations like cyclones and floods. We have come to take stock of the preparedness. We on behalf of the NDRF are prepared to offer whatever help the state government would require from us. NDRF is here not only to assist them in their preparedness but will also build their capacities. It will give special attention towards their training in the future,” said OP Singh, DG NDRF.

The high level meeting discussed floods and cyclones that often occur in the month of October.

The high level meeting chaired by development commissioner U N Behera was attended among others by chairman TWC and DG,  India Meteorological Department (IMD).