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By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, June 26, 2020: As part of its preparedness to manage possible floods in the coming months, Odisha government has identified 49 susceptible points in river embankments which could breach in the event of floods during this monsoon.

The state government has prepared a standard operating procedure if floods take place after July, official sources said adding that measures are being taken to set up temporary VHF centres where telecommunication may not be possible during the floods.

As the India Meteorological Department this time has predicted a good monsoon.

Besides, 20 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams have been kept in alert to act immediately in case of flood in identified vulnerable districts apart from the measures to safeguard the 49 identified vulnerable points on the river embankments, from June 1 to November 30 for any flood, an official said.

The strategy has also been prepared for drainage of flood and rain water from urban areas which for some years have been witnessing flood-like situation during the monsoon.

Medicines and essential food items are being stored in the gram panchayat level and as many as 879 multi-purpose cyclone and flood shelters are being kept in readiness for the possible eventualities.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who chaired a meeting of the State Level Natural Calamities Committee through video conferencing stressed on the importance of planning, quick rescue and restoration.

The state, he said, has taken several measures to lessen the danger from various natural disasters. “Our preparedness should be dynamic, collective, and participatory in nature”, he said adding that the state must remain prepared with a Standard Operating Procedure prepared on the basis of its vast experience on tacking several calamities.
Odisha remains the foremost state to institutionalise community-based preparation.

Stating that Odisha is prone to natural disasters, Patnaik said the state administration has all along faced the challenges and successfully tackled them.

“We learn from each disaster Odisha faces and make an attempt to improve its preparation for possible calamity. We have been praised by all sectors for learning from our experience and subsequent preparedness”, the CM remarked.