Bhubaneswar: Thunderstorm activity coupled with lightning and gusty surface wind is likely to continue in many parts of Odisha till March 22.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday that the state is likely to experience a gradual fall in the day temperature by 2-3°C after 3-4 days.
The weather agency has issued a yellow warning of thunderstorm with lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching up to 30-40 kmph for districts of Nuapada, Balangir, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri till the morning of March 19.
Orange warning of thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and hail along with gusty surface wind speed reaching up to 40-50 kmph has been issued for some places over the districts of Kalahandi & Nabarangpur on March 19 and 20.
Similarly, orange warning of thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and hail along with gusty surface wind reaching up to 50-60 kmph has been issued for the districts of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh & Sambalpur on March 20 and 21.
The MeT centre has also issued orange warning of thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and hail along with gusty surface wind speed reaching up to 50-60 kmph for the districts of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, and Bhadrak on March 21 and 22.
Meanwhile, some parts of Odisha experienced heatwave-like conditions. The weather agency has also predicted a hotter summer this year.
In view of the forecast made by the IMS, the state government has issued standard operating procedure (SOP), directing all urban local bodies (ULBs) to ensure strict implementation to mitigate the impact of rising temperature.
Attributing the abnormal heat to unusual rainfall patterns and heat-absorbing infrastructure, the Housing and Urban Development department asked the PHEOs and ULBs to ensure adequate drinking water supply to all the urban areas. The department also mandated 24-hour response times for water supply complaints and strategic deployment of tankers to scarcity-hit pockets during the peak summer months.
The SOP also mandated keeping all the tube wells and hand pumps in operational condition. The ULBs were instructed to open adequate number of drinking water kiosks and distribution centres on roadsides, crossroads, public offices, bus stands, railway stations, marketplaces and other such locations involving Mission Shakti-SHGs/ Federations/ NGOs. “Water provided in such water kiosks must be of potable quality and proper sanitation be maintained including the use of long-handle dispensers and change of water daily,” it said.
The department asked the ULBs to initiate strict enforcement against open burning of municipal solid waste and garden/tree residues and raise awareness among the urban households to keep one pot of water in front of their houses for stray birds and animals. It also asked the ULBs to ensure construction agencies and households cover their construction area and ensure safe disposal of the construction and demolition waste to avoid penalty.
The department SOP further mandated rejuvenation of the water bodies in and around the urban areas to make them usable for the public.
The ULBs were instructed to make the control rooms functional in the city-level offices of PHEO/ WATCO and immediately attend to the complaints received on water scarcity.
