Bhubaneswar: Census operations in Odisha may be temporarily halted if the ongoing heatwave intensifies, Revenue & Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said on Wednesday, as the state government reviews the impact of extreme weather on field staff.
Amid rising temperatures across the state, the minister said a meeting has already been held with officials of the Revenue & Disaster Management Department to assess the situation. He added that enumerators may also be consulted in the coming days, depending on how conditions evolve.
“If the heatwave worsens, census operations may be paused and resumed later. The safety of officials and the general public is our top priority,” Pujari told reporters.
The review comes after reports that several officials engaged in census duties have fallen ill while working in extreme heat conditions. The department is closely monitoring the situation and evaluating whether continuing fieldwork poses a risk to personnel.
Following discussions with senior officials, the government is expected to hold another round of consultations with personnel directly involved in enumeration work. Based on these inputs, a decision will be taken on whether to temporarily suspend field activities.
The minister also indicated that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be issued shortly to ensure the safety and well-being of field staff. With temperatures continuing to rise across Odisha, the government’s move signals a cautious approach, balancing administrative priorities with the safety of those on the ground.
