Bhubaneswar: In the wake of the deadly landslide at Gidipabali village in Ganjam district that killed at least two persons and left many others untraceable, the Odisha government is planning a large-scale rehabilitation initiative to shift residents living on and at the foothills of vulnerable hill ranges, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said.
According to the Minister, the administration has mapped several hundred areas in Kandhamal and Gajapati districts that are highly susceptible to landslides. As part of the strategy, families residing in these danger zones will be moved to secure locations.
He said new habitations will be created on stable ground and houses will be built in safer villages to resettle the affected families. A detailed enumeration has been started to identify how many people are staying on hilltops and in low-lying areas beneath hills that face landslide threats. The assessment will help the government gauge the extent of displacement and the rehabilitation support needed, Pujari added.
The Minister further informed that a team of officers had toured the northeastern states to examine the best practices and preventive measures implemented there to mitigate landslide hazards.
It may be noted that the recent landslide completely devastated Gidipabali village, where two deaths were confirmed and 11 persons are still missing. The relatives of those missing have performed symbolic funeral rituals.
