Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, May 13: The state housing and urban development (H&UD) department, which had weathered cyclones Phailin and Hudhud in quick succession, has issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) to all civic bodies, for adoption during future calamities.
H&UD department secretary G Mathivathanan has asked all urban local bodies (ULBs) and public health engineers’ organisation (PHEO) to follow the SOP in case of cyclone warning.
In the SOP, the secretary instructed officials to keep high-powered generators ready to provide power during the cyclones, in case of disruption of power supply and set up a control room immediately in ULBs, divisions, sub-divisions and section offices.
“No officials should leave headquarters without permission from the appropriate authority, keep high capacity pumps ready for draining out water from low-lying areas and ensure provision of safe drinking water through tankers in case of need during calamities to prevent epidemics and other water borne diseases,” Mathivathanan said in the SOP.
As per procedure, the ULB authorities have to identify schools, colleges, community centres and other public buildings for sheltering cyclone-affected persons and for providing necessary relief measures.
The officials have been asked to store adequate foodstuff, drinking water and cattle feeds in the identified cyclone and flood shelters before a disaster.
“Keep your sanitary workers and work-charged staff with the required equipment to clear roads of tree branches for free flow of traffic,” he directed.
All executive officers of ULBs will have to coordinate with concerned collectors and fire officers to get inflatable high mast lights for use in strategic locations, for lighting during disruption of power supply, the SOP said.
The officials have also been instructed to report to the H&UD department daily relief measures during the period.
Phailin and Hudhud had hit the state in October 2013 and 2014 respectively. Though there was no major loss of life during the storms due to effective management by government, they disturbed the livelihood of people in various parts.
