BMC Mayor Holds Inter-Department Meet To Face Possible Cyclone

Bhubaneswar: With a cyclonic circulation likely to form over South Andaman Sea and the neighbourhood around May 4, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) organised an inter-departmental coordination meeting to review progress of activities and preparedness for the natural disaster.

BMC Mayor Sulochana Das chaired the meeting which was attended by representatives from line departments like Fire, WATCO, Roads & Buildings, Electricity, Health and different sections of BMC.

Preparatory status of each department and requirements to fight the cyclone were discussed. BMC has 72 cyclone shelters, mostly in different schools where BMC and other officials will remain present to manage the situations.

The 31 waterlogging points will be addressed through dewatering and pumping out the flood water. The Corporation has 15 dewatering pumps along with four BMC pumps will be prepositioned at vulnerable points. The pump sets of Fire Department will be used as per requirements. Evacuation will be done based on situational requirements.

It was also decided to provide dry food to evacuated people in the temporary shelters and as per requirement hot cooked meal will also be provided by BMC.

The control room will be functional in 1929 and citizens can call to lodge their complaints or for any emergency help, stated a release by the BMC.

The Mayor stressed on mobile tower related accidents and said as there is a possibility of towers collapsing to the ground during cyclone, respective companies need to be intimated to be watchful during the emergency.

Discussions on rescue of stray animals and sub-divisional veterinary officer present at the meeting was intimated to keep the injured stray animals in 10 temporary shelters managed by different NGOs.

Sanitation activities will be taken up warfooting along with agencies, said Deputy Commissioner Sanitation, BMC. Suptd. Er. Tata Power Central Odisha Distribution Limited (TPCODL) was asked to remain prepared with their machineries and personnel for quick restoration of electricity.

Chief Municipal Medical Officer was told to arrange sufficient ORS, halogen tabs, anti-venom injections and ambulance.

Regarding drinking water supply, General Manager “WATCO” informed that 250 Sintex tanks and 25 water tankers are ready to meet the emergency. On requirement private tankers will hired to provide the service. The department has 80 diesel generators to meet power cuts, the GM said.

Among others, Additional Commissioner Laxmikanta Sethi, Additional Commissioner Binay Kumar Dash, City Er. Arun Ku. Nayak and chief Finance Officer Sanjeeb Singh were present.