Bhubaneswar: Following the handling of two major cyclones, Phailin in 2013 and Hudhud earlier this month, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said that Odisha is a model for others in disaster management.
"Odisha is a model for others as far as disaster management is concerned," Patnaik said after addressing a function on Odisha Disaster Preparedness Day, observed to mark the 1999 super cyclone.
About 10,000 people were killed in the super cyclone on this day (October 29) in 1999. "Over the years, we have developed systems to meet disaster of any kind," Patnaik said, adding that the community participation in disaster management is very important.
Referring to the recent cyclone, he said, "Our preparedness for cyclone Hudhud was failsafe. This was possible due to proper planning, preparedness and continuous capacity building for the past 15 years.
"With the creation of the Odisha Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), we have concentrated more on building capabilities to face disasters," he said. The Chief Minister said the state has constructed 350 multipurpose cyclone and flood shelters in the disaster-prone areas.
"An additional 459 shelter buildings are under construction, out of which 256 are from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund," he said. In the aftermath of cyclone Phailin on October 12, 2013, the Centre and the World Bank had agreed to finance construction of 30,000 disaster resistant houses by 2018.
Patnaik also felicitated some persons and organisations for their contribution to the state's effective disaster management. Manmohan Maharana of Dadhapatana under Barng block in Cuttack district was conferred with the bravery award. Maharana had saved two students from drowning by jumping into the Puri canal near Hanuman Batika in Barang.
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