BHUBANESWAR: For better preparedness during emergent situations like the present waterlogging in the City, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation on Monday appointed a City Emergency Officer (CEO). This is the first time since its inception that the civic body has created the post of a CEO.The officer, Lalatendu Das, has been assigned emergency responsibilities, on the same line as district collectors, for faster and effective management of the situation.
The City Emergency Officer will handle issues like emergencies, disaster and enforcement matters relating to emergencies. During downpour, he would be the overall in-charge to coordinate the activities relating to water-logging and also coordinate with other line departments of the State Government for drainage and storm water management.
In future, the CEO would also work on vulnerability mapping of different pockets of the Capital and work on devising a standard operating procedure (SOP) on how to tackle such a situation.The civic body has already created 12 sectors and a 24X7 Central Control Room which can be contacted on 0674-2430038.
The Corporation was engaged in a brain storming with the National Highways Authority of India which is working on a solution to take remedial measures for dewatering and drainage of flyovers at Pahala, Iskcon temple and Ainginia Square.
Heavy rains in next 24 hours
Bhubaneswar: The low pressure which became well-marked on Monday is likely to concentrate into a depression in next 24 hours and trigger heavy showers in southern and adjoining western belts of the State which already is reeling under a deluge. The system is churning slowly and moving at a slow pace, the weather office said. It was still over north-west Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal areas of Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal. Under its impact, heavy to very heavy rainfall are expected over Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Ganjam, Nuapada and Balangir. At some places, the showers may be very heavy.
The India Meteorological Department hoisted local cautionary signal number 3 at all ports in the State. Massive rainfall was recorded at some places of the State in the last 24 hours with Narla recording a whopping 395 mm, followed by 254 in Lanjigarh, 207 mm in Thuamul-Rampur and 200 mm in Bhawanipatna. In Cuttack’s Barang, the rainfall recorded was 105 mm while in Kakatpur of Puri, it was 130 mm. While catchments of all rivers received showers, water discharge of Mahanadi at Khairmal and Munduli rose though inflow and outflow grew marginally. While the current system will continue to spell rains till July 22, another system is likely to form off north Odisha coast by July 25.