New Delhi: A top UN official has praised Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for his “well-resourced disaster management authority” that saves lives during natural calamities.
Odisha’s example gives important lessons on “strengthening disaster risk governance, investing in preparedness and scenario planning while spreading a greater understanding of disaster risk”, the Chief of UN Office For Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Mami Mizutori, said in an interview to The Times of India.
“Naveen Patnaik has provided political commitment necessary to build a robust and well-resourced disaster management authority. In 1999, some 10,000 people died on the Odisha coastline and that has never been repeated,” Mizutori added.
UNDRR has previously appreciated the Odisha CM’s efforts during Cyclone Phalin in 2013.