Bhubaneswar: Odisha will begin relocating people living in vulnerable foothill areas from Sunday in view of the possibility of landslides and other damage from an approaching cyclonic system, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said on Saturday.
The Minister said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had indicated the likely formation of a low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal, which could intensify into a deep depression. The system is currently assessed to be moving towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, with southern Odisha also likely to be affected. There is a possibility of it making landfall further south than Cyclone Arnab, he added.
Pujari said preparations to tackle the approaching system had already begun, drawing on the experience of Cyclone Arnab. He reviewed the preparedness measures in the presence of the Chief Minister’s secretaries.
“We apprehend more landslides due to the incoming cyclone. Therefore, relocation of people living at the foothills will begin from tomorrow. People in vulnerable areas should leave their homes and move to safer places. The responsibility of protecting their houses rests with the police,” the Minister said.
He said several officers had already been deputed to Ganjam district to assess the ground situation, while discussions were underway to chalk out measures to minimise potential damage.
Referring to the impact of the recent weather events, Pujari said 13 landslides in Gajapati district and several others in Kandhamal had already caused considerable damage.
“Life is the most precious. Odisha has sufficient funds to compensate people for the loss of houses and property. The Chief Minister will soon take a decision on the compensation package,” he said.
The Minister also expressed concern over extensive damage to national highways due to the recent floods, saying National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials had started restoration work on a war footing.
He said the mouths of the Rushikulya river also needed urgent repair and officers had been deployed for the task. The government would formulate long-term plans to mitigate the impact of such natural disasters in the future, he added.
