The Odisha government will spend Rs 400 crore on strengthening the disaster management system in the state and empowering the front-line organisations engaged in mitigating the impact of disasters.

Frontal organisations like Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and fire service units would be provided with modern equipment to enhance their skill capacity. They would be further trained in modern techniques to deal with various disaster-related issues considering the changing climatic scenario.

“A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting presided by chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra,” said a press release issued by the chief secretary’s office.

It was decided that the state would build more flood shelters in flood-prone areas.

The shelters will be provided with modern relief and rescue equipment, including support for drinking water supply, and water evacuation during natural disasters.

The officials have been asked to identify flood-prone villages having insufficient flood/cyclone shelters so that people could be lodged there during natural calamities.

“More number of flood shelters would also be helpful in providing emergent relief to the people of the marooned villages. The height of the flood embankments in the vulnerable areas would be increased. They would also be strengthened,” said officials.

The state has also decided to go ahead with defining the formulation of PDNA (Post Disaster Needs Assessment) in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority and the National Institute of Disaster Management.

“A quick PDNA against the last heavy rain and flood would be conducted. After proper assessment of the needs, additional support would be mobilised for long-term recovery, reconstruction, recovery, and future damage reduction,” said special relief commissioner P.K. Jena.

Jena said: “Sectors like housing and resettlement, protection of civic amenities, including the health and educational infra, drinking water, local critical infrastructure needs like roads, bridges etc. would be the principal themes for PDNA. The PDNA will be completed in a month.”