Bhubaneswar: With a low-pressure area persisting over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining West Bengal–North Odisha coasts, the Odisha government has stepped up preparedness in urban areas, directing civic authorities to ensure immediate response to any weather-related disruption.
Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Usha Padhee, asked all urban authorities to remain on high alert and keep their response mechanisms fully operational to deal with any emerging situation.
She directed officials to ensure the availability of personnel, machinery and other emergency equipment at short notice. Rapid response teams have also been asked to remain active in the field so that complaints or emergencies reported from different locations can be addressed without delay.
The ACS stressed that citizen convenience should remain a priority during the response. Officials were instructed to attend to field-level issues on an urgent basis and take timely measures to minimise disruption to normal life.
Padhee also called for greater public communication during the period. Urban authorities have been directed to regularly share updates on preparedness measures and field-level actions through press briefings and official social media platforms.
The Housing & Urban Development Department is to be kept informed about the evolving situation and the measures being undertaken by urban authorities.
She further instructed civic authorities to coordinate closely with the district administration and other concerned agencies and seek additional assistance from the department wherever necessary.
The government’s directions are aimed at ensuring a coordinated, responsive and people-centric mechanism to tackle any impact arising from the developing weather system.
