Bhubaneswar: Chief Secretary, Pradeep Kumar Jena graced a symposium on Disaster Management in Odisha held under “Zen Next-Democracy-Network” programme sponsored by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR),New Delhi. The Seminar was held on Monday at Convention Centre, Lok Seva Bhawan, in co-ordination with Odisha State Disaster Management Authority & ‘SOA’ University.
Addressing to 26 delegates of eight countries i.e Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Guyana, Mongolia, Portugal and South Africa participated in the seminar, Chief Secretary Sri Jena shared about how Odisha has been able to manage disasters successfully under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik since 2000.
Briefing the youth representatives of different countries, participated in the seminar, Chief Secretary said that, the Super Cyclone that occurred in 1999 caused us extensive damage. There was sketchy prediction about the cyclone at that time; we had inadequate preparedness and also lack of capacity to respond and no such disaster proof infrastructure.
Stating the reason for damage caused during that Super Cyclone, CS further explained that our ability to withstand 269 to 300 km wind speed at that time and lack of disaster resilient infrastructure led to the loss of about 10,000 lives. Also 18 lakh hectares of crops damaged and 20 lakh houses destroyed in that Cyclone in Odisha. Transport, telephone, electricity supply and roads were badly damaged. Since that Super cyclone, we have faced 10 cyclones so far and learnt a lot . The experience of each cyclone was different. But due to our preparedness, we have been ensuring zero casualty since cyclone ‘Bulbul’ in 2019.
Now, there has been paradigm shift in management of disaster. We have Robust Disaster Management Institutional mechanism; Impact based forecasting and targeted evacuation strategy and 879 multi-disaster resilient Multi Purpose Cyclone Centres/Flood Centres. With technology centric warning dissemination, pre deployment of NDRF, ODRAF, FIRE Services are being ensured. Also advanced planning for restoration, pre-positioning of men, machine and material, involvement of elected representatives PRIs and empowered SHGs, Trained & resilient community have strengthened our Community led Disaster Preparedness. Besides, services of the Indian Defence Force at times of need is our core assets of our disaster management.
“Our fight against COVID-19 was full of challenges,” Shri Jena said, adding that Odisha was able to save many lives supplying Liquid Oxygen from to other States in times of dire need.