Odisha aims to reach global standards in disaster mgmt: Naveen Patnaik

Bhubaneswar: Attempting to reach global standards in the disaster management, the Odisha government today said it will use space technology for tackling calamities in the state.

"I am hopeful that disaster preparedness will be enhanced with use of proven space technology. This technology will help in giving more timely information in dissemination of data through GIS-based platform," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said addressing a function marking Disaster Preparedness Day and National Day for Disaster Reduction.

The days were celebrated marking the 16th anniversary of the Super Cyclone that killed about 10,000 people in Odisha in 1999.

Patnaik appealed the citizens to come forward and join hands to work towards a disaster resilient Odisha.

The Chief Minister said the state government has been pursuing a pro-active, community based and technology driven disaster management strategy to protect lives, livelihoods and assets of the people.

"With the creation of Odisha Disaster Management Authority, we have concentrated in improving our disaster preparedness and response standards through construction of disaster resistant infrastructure, trained community based organisations, and strengthened state and district emergency operation centres," he said.

In the aftermath of the Cyclone Phailin in 2013, the government has taken up construction of over 16,000 disasters resilient houses for the affected people in the districts of Ganjam and Khorda under the Odisha Disaster Recovery Project, Patnaik said.

He expressed satisfaction that 'Use of Space Technology in Disaster Management' has been chosen, as this year's theme.

Stating that the state has already constructed 432 multi-purpose cyclone and flood shelters in disaster prone area and was undertaking construction of 445 other such shelters, Patnaik said "We have been attempting to reach global standards in disaster management."

The state government has already earned praise from different countries including UN bodies for successfully handling disasters like Cyclone Phailin in 2014 and Cyclone Hudhud in 2014.