Bhubaneswar: Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Sunday urged farmers to harvest mature crops, particularly those that are around 85 per cent ready, ahead of a possible cyclone and the heavy rainfall it could bring, as the state stepped up precautionary measures to deal with the potential weather threat.
Speaking to reporters, Pujari said farmers should follow the recommendations of researchers from the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) on harvesting crops to minimise potential losses from adverse weather conditions.
The minister said the state government had intensified its preparedness measures in anticipation of the possible cyclone.
The Water Resources Department has begun releasing water from dams at several locations to create additional storage capacity for rainwater that may flow into reservoirs during heavy rainfall, he said.
The measure is intended to manage increased inflows and reduce the risk of flooding in surrounding areas, Pujari added.
Personnel from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Fire and Emergency Services are being deployed at various locations as part of the state’s preparedness and rescue arrangements, he said.
District administrations have also been alerted, while relief centres and vehicles required for evacuation and rescue operations have been kept ready.
The government is making arrangements to shift people living in low-lying areas to safer locations, the minister said, adding that the process of relocating pregnant women to safer places had already begun.
Pujari appealed to people not to panic and urged them to cooperate with the administration and follow instructions issued by the authorities.
Ensuring public safety remains the government’s top priority, he said, adding that all necessary arrangements were being made to respond to any emergency arising from the possible cyclone.
The state government is closely monitoring the situation and has mobilised disaster response teams and district-level machinery to deal with any eventuality, the minister added.
