Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government began a comprehensive survey to assess the extent of damage caused by heavy rain, strong winds and landslides triggered by Cyclone Montha.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari told reporters on Thursday that Collectors of all affected districts have been asked to complete the survey within 72 hours.
“The damage assessment process started today. We have instructed all district authorities to complete the survey within three days,” he said.
Noting that the cyclone hit the state during the harvesting season, Pujari said crops were either ready for harvest or already being harvested in many areas during the storm.
Heavy rain under the impact of the cyclone has caused extensive damage to standing crops, particularly rice, cotton, and vegetables, in multiple districts.
All affected districts have been asked to submit detailed reports covering losses to crops, houses, roads, public infrastructure, and farmlands. The government will take immediate measures to ensure relief and rehabilitation for the affected families once the reports are received, he said.
Underlining the need for timely completion of the survey, Pujari said officials from districts that suffered minimal or no damage will be temporarily deputed to assist in assessing damages in the worst-hit areas. It has been decided to mobilise revenue department officials from regions with negligible impact to expedite the estimation process in the affected zones, he said.
Pujari said that District Collectors and departmental officers have been directed to remain on high alert and take all necessary steps for quick restoration work. Every department has been instructed to coordinate effectively to ensure that damaged infrastructure and essential services are restored at the earliest, he said.
The Minister also noted that landslides have emerged as a new challenge in some hilly regions, particularly in Gajapati district, which had not previously been prone to such incidents. “Landslides have become a new concern in certain parts of the state. We will carefully study their pattern and prepare an action plan to mitigate future risks,” said.
He further said that the state government will develop a dedicated disaster management strategy to address such situations in the future, ensuring better inter-departmental coordination to deal with landslides and secondary hazards caused by extreme weather events.
Officials have been instructed to complete household and field verification quickly so that compensation for damaged crops and property can be processed and disbursed without delay.
