Bhubaneswar: To be prepared to tackle unprecedented disasters like the Bahanaga train tragedy, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today announced to set up Regional Fire Service Hubs at five important locations in different parts of the State.
The Chief Minister has said this while chairing State-level Natural Calamity Committee meeting-2024 here.
Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo and Pravati Parida, Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management, Suresh Pujari, Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan and other Ministers, MPs and MLAs were present in the meeting.
Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Development Commissioner Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Nikunj Bihari Dhal and other senior officials were also present.
Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department and SRC Satyabrat Sahu delivered the welcome address.
After listening to the views of the Committee Members, the Chief Minister said steps will be taken to make 5 Regional Fire Service Hubs operational immediately in view of various accidental disasters like train accidents.
He directed the Water Resources Department to take steps on a war-footing basis to immediately repair the weak river banks and the embankments in the state.
The Urban Development Department has also directed to desilt the drains in the urban areas and make water drainage system due to flooding in the urban areas due to heavy rains.
Similarly, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been asked to prepare a proposal of Rs 200 crore for urban flood management.
In addition to this, a long-term proposal will be prepared with the technical support from IIT Delhi to manage floods in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and other urban areas, he said.
Similarly, a 24 hours control room will be made functional in the State, district and other offices. The Chief Minister directed the Health Department to stock anti-snake venom in all health centers as there is a high chance of snakebites on rainy days.
He said steps will be taken so that the public can be given advance information about various calamities through the alert mobile app and awareness about this app will be created among the public.
The Chief Minister said that Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) is the first state-level disaster response force in the country and it is also the best at the all-India level.
ODRAF has brought fame to Odisha for search and rescue operations during various calamities within and outside the State. Majhi said that steps will be taken by the Home Department to increase the ODRAF to 30 units and make a dedicated force.
Similarly, the Fire Service department is the first responder to any disaster at the district-level. So, Rs 394 crores from the Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) are being spent to increase the capacity of the department. Another Rs 200 crore will be provided for this purpose, the CM said.
In addition, he suggested that in view of possible floods this year, the Special Relief Commissioner should coordinate with all the departments and all the departments should remain alert to reduce the damage caused by the disaster.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Chief Minister said that Odisha is a natural calamity prone State. In terms of geographical location, the state is not only prone to floods and cyclones, but also lightning, drowning, fire and other disasters continue to occur every year.
He praised the steps taken by the State and Central Governments in rescuing and providing proper treatment to those injured in the railway accident in Bahanaga and the contribution of the local people in the rescue work was also exceptional, the CM said.
He expressed concern over the recent incidents of river boat drowning in Jharsuguda district, fire mishap in Puri and accidental deaths in Western Odisha.
“Our government is the people’s government. We have always paid special attention to people’s problems. So I urge all to ensure ‘zero casualty’ in natural calamities,” Shri Majhi added.