Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena today emphasized on densification of Mangroves which help build coastal resilience as effective natural safeguards against cyclones and massive palm tree plantations to prevent rising lightning deaths.
While chairing the 3rd Meeting of the State Executive Committee (SEC) of Disaster Management, the Chief Secretary focused on the procurement of Search and rescue Equipment, accessories and Vehicles for Odisha Fire and Emergency Services.
He advised the Forest department to take up more and more Palm tree plantations in all areas, basically districts prone to lightning.
An amount of Rs. 159, 02, 19,356 has already been released against the proposal of Rs. 240,33,51,108 . The Home Department has been requested to go ahead with the procurement process.
The funds position of SDRMF as on April 1 was Rs 3765.74 Crore and total Corpus of SDRMF including Central and State shares was Rs 2358.00 Crore. Availability of funds in State Disaster Risk Management Fund for 2023-24 SDMF & SDRF total amounts to Rs 5158.14 Cr.
Department and district-wise Utilization certificates received out of funds released from SDRF/ SDRMF/ NDRF/ NDRMF were discussed in detail in the meeting.
The government has released Rs.13032.263 Lakh towards Natural Calamities to districts, FE&CC Department, H&UD,PR & DW department and Disaster Management Authority. The Works Department has submitted a proposal of Rs. 8,128.98 Lakh for the construction of eight flood-resilient roads in Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Sambalpur and Kalahandi District.
OSDMA has placed a non-structural Lightning mitigation proposal for implementation of Lightning alert / forecast system in collaboration with Earth Network and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune through SATARK App for three years (2023-24, 2024-25 & 2025-26) @ Rs. 50.00 lakh per annum plus taxes & other charges as applicable.
A proposal of Rs. 13,21,200 has been submitted by OSDMA for implementation of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Ready (IOTR) Programmes in 24 identified Tsunami-prone Villages of six coastal districts for obtaining the tsunami-ready certification from IOC-UNESCO including organizing an Orientation Programme on Tsunami for key stakeholders of the Tsunami Prone Urban Local Bodies i.e Puri, Konark, Gopalpur and Paradip.
This year, OSDMA will organize Disaster Preparedness Day on October 29, 2023 at Rabindra Mandap. A Mini Marathon will be organized in collaboration with the Sports and Youth Services Department to create mass awareness among the general public on disaster management.
OSDMA has proposed to conduct 40 FAMEx/CAP programmes by ODRAF and 60 by Fire Services (Total-100) in the calendar year starting from Nov 15, 2023 to Dec 31 2024 requiring a sum of Rs. 50, 000,00/- ( Rs 50,000X100 programmes) out of SDRF Capacity Building Fund.
OSDMA has also proposed to conduct 40 FAMEx/CAP programmes by ODRAF and 60 by Fire Services (Total100) in the calendar year starting from 15th Nov-2023 to 31st Dec-2024 requiring a sum of Rs. 50, 000,00/- ( Rs 50,000X100 programmes) out of SDRF Capacity Building Fund. Such mock exercises will be conducted in 30 districts twice a year.