Paperman Media ( Bhubaneswar )- A high-level review meeting on flood and stormwater management was held at Lok Seva Bhawan under the chairmanship of the Hon'ble Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management, Shri Suresh Pujari. During the meeting, the Minister emphasized strengthening disaster management in the State through the adoption of advanced technological interventions and community-based awareness programmes to enhance disaster preparedness and resilience.
The meeting held detailed discussions on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and IIT Roorkee for managing urban flooding caused by heavy rainfall. A presentation was made on the Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by IIT Roorkee. It was deliberated that, in coordination with the Housing and Urban Development Department, ten urban areas would be identified in the initial phase for implementation of urban flood management and stormwater drainage projects with financial assistance to be provided from the Disaster Management Fund. The Hon'ble Minister advised that scientific management of stormwater drainage systems in Bhubaneswar and other urban centres should be ensured to facilitate efficient drainage of rainwater and minimize waterlogging.
The meeting was also informed that 381 tsunami-prone coastal villages have so far been identified and are being developed as Tsunami-Ready Villages through various preparedness and community-based disaster management initiatives. Out of these, 26 villages in Odisha have been officially recognised as Tsunami-Ready Villages under the IOC-UNESCO Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme. Further, the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) has entered into a collaboration with the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad for modernization of tsunami management and early warning systems. The Hon'ble Minister held detailed discussions with officials of INCOIS on the forecasting and early warning mechanisms and stressed the need to further strengthen the rapid warning system in the coming years.
The Minister observed that landslides have emerged as a new dimension of disasters. In view of the recent landslide incidents in Gajapati district, the Department is conducting surveys at vulnerable locations. Senior departmental officials have visited the North-Eastern States to study their landslide management systems and are also consulting various national and international expert institutions for developing an appropriate framework for Odisha. The Minister further directed officials to closely monitor coastal erosion in the coastal districts and undertake appropriate preventive measures. He also advised that houses constructed under Government housing schemes in cyclone-prone areas should be designed as disaster-resilient dwellings by incorporating suitable disaster-resistant features.
The meeting was attended by Shri Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, Special Relief Commissioner, Shri Arindam Dakua, Director, Municipal Administration, Shri Chanchal Rana, Commissioner, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and senior officials of the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA). Officials from IIT Roorkee and INCOIS, Hyderabad also participated in the discussions through virtual mode.
