Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, June 30, 2015 :

The Odisha government on Tuesday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of the deceased for any death due to one of the seven state-specific disasters, like lightning, whirlwind, tornado, heavy rain, boat accident, drowning and snakebite.

Presiding over the state level natural disaster committee meeting at the State Secretariat here, chief minister Naveen Patnaik asked the concerned officials to immediately provide the ex-gratia to the family of the deceased if someone dies in any of the seven Odisha specific disasters.

The chief minister also directed the Water Resources department to strengthen all weak river embankments and repair of all breached embankments on the basis of the feedback from the people living in these areas.

“I would suggest the departments to have a foolproof feedback mechanism directly from people living in vulnerable embankment areas and people’s representatives. This is very important,” Patnaik said.

In view of a possible drought and flood situation in view of the forecast of the Indian Meteorological Department on irregular rainfall this year, the chief minister asked the Agriculture department to gear up with necessary crop planning.

He also asked the Revenue and Disaster Management department to keep the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and fire tenders in readiness for relief and rescue operations during flood and asked the Food Supply and Consumer Welfare department to keep adequate food materials in stock in the remote and inaccessible areas vulnerable to flood.

Patnaik also stressed the need for smooth supply of drinking water, proper health services and sanitation in the flood-affected areas.

The chief minister asked all departments to keep their the technical wings in readiness for restoration work in the event of any natural calamity.

The members of the committee discussed the problems in their areas and their solution.

Revenue and Disaster Management minister Bijayshree Routray, Cooperation minister Damodar Rout, Finance minister Pradip Kumar Amat, Leader of the Opposition Narasingh Mishra, ministers of the concerned departments, MPs, MLAs, chief secretary, development commissioner, principal secretaries and secretaries were present.