Bhubaneswar: In the wake of recent incidents in Gajapati district, the Odisha government is set to prepare a comprehensive master plan to prevent loss of human lives due to landslides.
Sharing this information on Saturday, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said steps will be taken to identify landslide-prone zones in the hilly regions of the state.
Referring to recent incidents, the Minister said that the process of disbursing compensation to people affected by landslides in various districts has already started.
District Collectors have been instructed to assess the extent of damage and submit their reports, based on which compensation will be provided to the affected families by tomorrow, he said.
Pujari said the government will also identify low-lying roads vulnerable to waterlogging and take measures to ensure uninterrupted connectivity.
The District Collector of Malkangiri has been specifically directed to identify and repair such roads by raising their height.
Notably, heavy rain triggered by a low-pressure system has caused severe damage in Gajapati, Rayagada, and Kalahandi districts. While residents in Rayagada were relocated, nine villages in Kalahandi were marooned. Worst hit was Gajapati district.
Stating that the situation is now under control, Pujari said Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena was on the ground for two days to oversee the relief and rescue operations in the affected areas.