Bhubaneswar: In view of the ongoing heatwave conditions across various districts of the state during the current summer season, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja reviewed the situation today in a meeting held at Lok Seva Bhawan.
According to an official press release, the meeting, focused on the preparation, mitigation, and management of the heatwave for 2025.
The meeting was attended by several key officials, including Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue Department and Special Relief Commissioner Deoranjan Kumar Singh, Director General of Police Y.B. Khurania, as well as principal secretaries, commissioners, and senior officials from various concerned departments.
In line with the decisions and directives issued during a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister on March 18 to address this year’s heatwave, a review was conducted on the steps taken to tackle the heatwave situation in the state. Special Relief Commissioner Singh presented a detailed report on the actions undertaken.
The Chief Secretary emphasized that District Collectors should regularly monitor the effectiveness of the directives issued to combat the heatwave. He reviewed the availability of water, particularly drinking water, across different districts, the measures taken to address drinking water shortages where they exist, and conducted a district-wise assessment of the situation.
Instructions were given to collect regular updates from the panchayat level. District-level officials were directed to oversee the situation and manage heatwave conditions at the panchayat and block levels.
The Chief Secretary specifically inquired about the drinking water situation and heatwave management in districts such as Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Balangir, Sonepur, and Bargarh.
He directed strict adherence to the guidelines or Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) established to address the heatwave. To successfully manage the heatwave and achieve zero casualties, all necessary measures should be taken, he advised.
District emergency officers were instructed to regularly update District Collectors on the situation.
The India Meteorological Department’s Bhubaneswar Regional Centre presented an assessment of the heatwave conditions, including observations for March, the actual situation experienced, and the anticipated weather conditions for coastal and interior Odisha from April to June.
SOPs related to heatwave management have been sent to districts by various departments. However, the Chief Secretary directed the Special Relief Commissioner to compile all SOPs into a single document and distribute it to all departments and District Collectors, while also ensuring a more coordinated and expedited information-sharing process regarding heatwave management.
He further advised the Information and Public Relations Department, in coordination with relevant departments, to take necessary steps to create widespread public awareness about heatwave preparedness through the media.
