Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has proposed the establishment of a state-of-the-art disaster management centre in Bhubaneswar to strengthen Odisha’s preparedness and resilience against natural calamities. During a meeting with the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT), Majhi urged the Central Government to extend its support for this initiative.
The IMCT, led by Joint Secretary PK Ray from the Ministry of Home Affairs, visited the cyclone-hit districts of Bhadrak, Kendrapara, and Balasore on November 24 to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Dana. The team met with the Chief Minister on Tuesday to discuss their findings and the state’s recovery efforts.
During the discussions, CM Majhi stressed the urgent need for assistance in restoring damaged infrastructure and developing disaster-resilient systems. Highlighting Odisha’s vulnerability to frequent natural disasters, he noted the significant economic and infrastructural toll these events impose annually.
The Chief Minister detailed the state’s ongoing initiatives, such as:
- Laying underground power cables in coastal districts to prevent outages during cyclones.
- Building robust coastal embankments to protect vulnerable regions from flooding.
- Undertaking large-scale afforestation projects to mitigate environmental damage.
Majhi emphasized that modern disaster management infrastructure would not only enhance Odisha’s preparedness but also safeguard its developmental progress. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari added that sustainable infrastructure could serve as a catalyst for economic growth in the state.
PK Ray, head of the IMCT, commended Odisha’s efficient management of Cyclone Dana, attributing the minimized loss of life to proactive measures taken by the state government. He acknowledged the challenges posed by repeated natural calamities and expressed the Central Government’s intent to support Odisha’s recovery efforts.
The proposal for a modern disaster management centre underscores Odisha’s commitment to building a resilient future. As discussions progress, the state anticipates a collaborative approach with the Centre to bolster its disaster mitigation and recovery mechanisms.
