38 more flood shelters to come up in state

 At least 200 more multi-purpose cyclone centres are being constructed at different cyclone-prone areas as the State is highly vulnerable to natural calamities.

 “At least 149 multi-purpose cyclone shelters under National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) and 14 such shelters under Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZMP) are being constructed,” Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Surjya Narayan Patro said here on Monday.

 Patro announced this as the State observed Odisha Disaster Preparedness Day and National Day for Disaster Reduction here, commemorating the super-cyclone of 1999 in which about 10,000 people were killed.

 The Minister also said the Government had also sanctioned funds for construction of 38 more flood shelters at strategic locations of the State. Odisha already has 180 multi-purpose cyclone shelters and flood shelters.

 The Government is prioritising construction of such shelters as it realised that lives of a large number of people could have been saved if the State had adequate number of shelters, he said.

 The Minister said the State Government is improving its disaster management infrastructure.

“Now we have 10 units of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) trained in search and rescue techniques and is equipped with modern machinery,” he said.

 The State Government is also training the communities to help themselves during disasters, he said and added that special provisions are being made for disabled and pregnant women at the shelters.

However, despite the improved preparedness and response standards, disaster remained a challenge for the State, he said.

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