Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Friday decided to provide financial assistance to urban areas as part of a comprehensive plan to effectively tackle flooding caused by intense and prolonged rainfall.
In the first phase of the plan, ten urban areas of the state will be provided financial assistance in coordination with the Urban Development Department.
The plan was discussed at a high-level emergency meeting held in Bhubaneswar to address the rising risk of waterlogging and artificial flooding in major cities due to inadequate drainage systems and changing weather patterns.
The meeting reviewed the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and IIT Roorkee for scientific management of urban flooding caused by heavy rainfall. IIT Roorkee made a presentation on the Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared for the project.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said funds will be released this year to strengthen drainage infrastructure and improve water discharge systems in the selected 10 urban centres.
The Housing and Urban Development Department has been asked to prepare and submit the list of these cities for immediate implementation of the project. It will be funded through the Disaster Management Fund.
Apart from urban flood control measures, the state government has announced plans to upgrade and modernise 580 km of coastline to enhance early warning systems and disaster preparedness. The initiative is part of Odisha’s broader coastal resilience strategy, especially in view of potential tsunami risks.
Authorities also plan to intensify awareness programmes across 381 coastal villages to educate residents on evacuation procedures and emergency response during natural disasters.
This apart, the government is preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) to address landslide-prone zones and reduce associated risks in vulnerable regions.
The Minister was informed that 381 tsunami-prone coastal villages have been identified and are being developed as Tsunami-Ready Villages through preparedness measures and community-based disaster management initiatives. Of these, 26 villages have received recognition under the IOC-UNESCO Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme.
The meeting also reviewed measures to modernise tsunami preparedness. The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) has collaborated with the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad, to strengthen tsunami management and early warning systems. Pujari held detailed discussions with INCOIS officials on forecasting and warning mechanisms and called for further strengthening of the rapid warning system in the coming years.
