Bhubaneswar: Remembering the devastating 1999 super cyclone, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Saturday claimed his government has taken all steps to deal with both natural and man-made disasters in the state.
Addressing a state-level function to mark the State Disaster Preparedness Day and National Day for Disaster Reduction here, Patnaik said, “My government has ensured adequate preparedness at all levels. We cannot prevent fury of nature. But we must make all possible efforts to mitigate the impact of disasters.”
The state government has been pursuing a pro-active, community based and technology backed disaster management strategy to protect lives, livelihoods and assets of people, he said.
The chief minister also said that after the creation of Orissa State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), the concentration is on disaster preparedness and response standards by creating disaster resistant infrastructure, trained community based organisations and strengthening state and district operation centres.
“Construction of 879 cyclone and flood shelter buildings, about 7,000 houses for Phailin effected people of Ganjam and Khurda districts, 571 houses at Bagpatia rehabilitation site for sea erosion effected people of Satabhaya in Kendrapara district and 243 shelter connectivity roads covering 390 km, etc have been taken up,” he pointed out.
Similarly, there are 20 units of Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) with all required rescue and life-saving equipment.
Provision for last-mile connectivity with early warning towers has been taken up at 122 locations along the coast to disseminate cyclone and tsunami warnings, he said.
A specific theme is being taken up every year and this year it is protecting human beings and animals from lightning.
Patnaik further stated the theme has been selected to generate public awareness and ensure preparedness for protecting humans and animals from lightening, which claims more than 300 human lives in the state every year.
OSDMA MD Pradipta Mohapatra said all early warning towers at 122 locations will be completed by March 2017. “To protect human lives and animals from lightening, we are going to start village and panchayat-level awareness campaigning. Today campaign posters have been unveiled and will be distributed to all panchayats,” Mohapatra said.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) director general KJ Ramesh said both Met department and state government will coordinate to deal with natural hazards.
Asked about the status of Doppler radars being set up in the state, Ramesh said the instrument at Paradip is functioning while the Gopalpur facility is being tested and it will start operations in a month. PNN
