OSDMA team to combat chemical disasters

| | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

The State Natural Disaster Executive Council led by Chief Secretary AP Padhi on Wednesday approved various State and district-level action plants to combat possible natural calamities in coming days.

Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi presented updates for discussion and informed a total of 814 cyclone shelters are operating in the State.

It was decided to set up “State Crisis Group” in the OSDMA for management of chemical and industrial accidents. The OSDMA and the Factory and Boiler Directorate would work in this regard. Padhi directed to prepare a “data bank’ to record chemical disasters.

Besides, it was decided to install automatic weather and rainfall measure machines in gram panchayats.

Besides, skills in the State Drought Management Cell would be enhanced. For these works, Rs 192 crore was approved.

Padhi directed officials to complete the ongoing installation work of Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS) in 22 coastal blocks by July-end. This project is being undertaken at a total of Rs 75.09 crore.