Govt schemes to have disaster resilience features

To take up reconstruction prgrammes in the aftermath of disasters, the state government has directed all the departments to modify the ongoing government schemes by incorporating some features on disaster resilience.

"Beneficiary oriented schemes in panchayati raj, agriculture, women and child development and housing & urban development will be augmented to include post disaster recovery plans," said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the observance of Odisha Disaster Preparedness Day and the National Day for Disaster Reduction.

The state was first hit by a very severe cyclonic storm Phailin on October 12 and later low pressure induced rains triggered floods in 13 coastal districts causing huge damage to roads, building, electricity and other infrastructures. About 40 people lost their lives in the calamities.

The state administration successfully evacuated about one million people before the cyclone's landfall.

Stating that the preparedness for cyclone was foolproof, Patnaik said, successful evacuation of about one million people before the cyclone actually helped us to save many human lives.

"This was possible through our extensive planning, preparedness and continuous efforts for capacity building in the last 14 years," he added.

In the aftermath of super cyclone in 1999 that claimed about 10,000 lives in Odisha, the state government created the Odisha State Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA) to take up mitigation activities and also to carry out relief, restoration, reconstruction and other measures.

"Since then, we have concentrated on both structural and non-structural interventions to build our capacities significantly to face disasters," the chief minister said.

As many as 247 multipurpose cyclone and flood shelters have been built in remote areas while 163 more shelters are under construction. This work is being taken up under National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) and Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project with World Bank assistance. Similarly, 38 multipurpose flood shelters are coming up with assistance from the chief minister's relief fund. "All the completed buildings were used during cyclone Phailin to provide shelter to evacuated people," Patnaik said. For carrying out massive evacuation of people from the vulnerable areas before the cyclonic storm, the state government has earned accolades from United Nations and industry bodies.

To further update the preparedness and increase the capacities for disaster management, the state government plans to give basic training to 10,000 student volunteers from 100 colleges through OSDMA.