Bhubaneswar: On Odisha Disaster Preparedness Day and National Day for Disaster Reduction, which is observed every year on 29 October to commemorate destruction brought by Super Cyclone 1999, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik remembered the lives lost in the calamity. He said that it is a day of contemplation of the current situation and making resolve for the future.
“During 23 years since the Super Cyclone, we have done everything possible to make Odisha a safer place during disasters. Odisha today has the most robust infrastructure for disaster management. The world has recognised our efforts in all these years. I would like to thank my 4.5 crore brothers and sisters for their support and solidarity in building a disaster resilient Odisha,” said Patnaik.
Heappreciated the efforts of PRI members, Mission Shakti Group members, frontline workers like ASHAs and Anganwadi Workers, NGOs and community level volunteers, Government Officials, ODRAF, Fire Services, NDRF and Police personnel for their coordinated work to reduce human casualty.
“During 2022, the state faced floods in the Mahanadi, Baitarani and Subarnarekha River systems, affecting more than 23 lakh people in 16 districts. Due to robust preparedness and coordinated efforts, we evacuated nearly 2.7 lakh people to safer places and took up timely relief and restoration measures,” said the Chief Minister.
He said that Odisha’s geographic location makes it prone to natural disasters. Nearly 10 thousand people died in Super Cyclone 1999. Then, the State did not have safe shelters. During these years, 815 multi-purpose cyclone and flood shelters have been constructed. 55 new shelters are under construction out of Chief Ministers’ Relief Fund.
For better impact-based forecasting, the Government will set up Telemetric Rain Gauge in all Gram Panchayats, Automatic Weather Station at Block headquarters, and sensors in our River Systems. These steps will help the State to get precise real time information for more effective management of disasters, he added.
The Chief Minister said that to strengthen community driven preparedness, training is being provided to more than 40 thousand volunteers at village and shelter level. Further, the Government is taking up capacity building of elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions, Urban Local Bodies, Mission Shakti Members, ASHAs, Anganwadi Workers, Vana Surakhya Samiti (VSS) Members, as they play a key role in disaster risk reduction.
Besides, Disaster and Pandemic Management is being introduced in the educational curricula of students from standard 4 to Graduation level with a view to preparing Disaster Management Yodhas in every village and households.
“I appeal to all stakeholders and my fellow citizens to come forward and join hands to reaffirm our resolve to create a disaster resilient Odisha,” said the Chief Minister.
