We Must Be Dynamic In Our Preparedness For Natural Disasters, Says Odisha CM

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said on Friday that the state must be dynamic in its preparation for natural disasters.

Chairing a meeting of the state’s Natural Disaster Committee through video conferencing, Patnaik stressed on the importance of planning, quick rescue and restoration in tackling natural disasters.

“The state government has taken several result-oriented measures to lessen the danger to people from various natural disasters. Our preparedness should be dynamic, collective, and participatory in nature,” Patnaik said at the meeting with 5T secretary V.K. Pandian, council of Ministers, leader of the Opposition, MPs and MLAs.

Advising the administration to remain prepared with Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), using their experience, Patnaik said: “Odisha remains the foremost state to institutionalise community-based preparation. Our experience in community-based management has been also very helpful in COVID management.”

He stated that because of the steps the state has taken to contain the pandemic, Odisha is in a better position. He also thanked the people of Odisha for cooperating with the administration in the fight against COVID-19.

“Ours is a natural disaster-prone State. Despite facing several dangers due to natural disasters, we are prepared to tackle any situation,” he observed.

“We learn from previous disasters and make an endeavour to improve our preparation for possible calamity. We have been praised by all sectors for learning from our experience and subsequent preparedness,” he added.