THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, JULY 2, 2026

Assuring that there would be no constraints in funding disaster management infrastructure, Revenue & Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Saturday said the Odisha Government is committed to further strengthening the State's disaster preparedness system. He also announced that Doppler Weather Radars at Sambalpur, Balasore, Bhubaneswar and Puri would be commissioned in a phased manner, significantly enhancing the State's weather forecasting and disaster response capabilities.

The Minister made the announcement while chairing a high-level review meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan to assess the preparedness and implementation of key disaster management initiatives across Odisha. Stressing the need to further strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of the State's disaster management framework, Pujari assured that the government would extend all required financial support and logistical assistance for disaster mitigation and response measures.

During the meeting, a comprehensive review was conducted on the expenditure plan under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). The progress of various projects and the utilisation of funds allocated to different departments were examined in detail.

The Minister directed all concerned departments to expedite the implementation of projects under the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) and the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF), ensuring that all sanctioned projects are completed well before the stipulated timelines.

A detailed review was also undertaken on the construction of Multipurpose Flood & Cyclone Centres, which are expected to play a crucial role in safeguarding vulnerable populations during natural calamities. Pujari instructed the concerned departments to identify the proposed sites in various districts at the earliest, strengthen inter-departmental coordination and accelerate the construction process to ensure timely completion.

The meeting was informed that the installation of the Doppler Weather Radar at Sambalpur is in its final stages and will be inaugurated shortly. The Minister also reviewed the progress of the proposed Doppler Radar projects at Balasore, Bhubaneswar and Puri, directing officials to complete all installations within the current year. The expanded Doppler Radar network is expected to significantly improve real-time weather monitoring, early warning dissemination and disaster preparedness across the State.

The State's preparedness to tackle the possible impact of El Niño was another key agenda of the meeting. It was decided that close coordination would be maintained with the Water Resources Department to ensure optimal utilisation of reservoirs, irrigation projects and water storage facilities for agricultural and irrigation purposes, thereby minimising the adverse impact of potential water shortages.

Recognising the increasing threat posed by extreme summer temperatures, the Minister also directed officials to complete the proposed Heat Wave Centres in identified vulnerable districts and make them operational before the onset of the next summer season.

The review meeting was attended by Dr. Arabinda Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue & Disaster Management Department; Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, Special Relief Commissioner; Shubha Sharma, Principal Secretary, Water Resources Department; Yamini Sarangi, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Rural Development Department; Dr. Manorama Mohanty, Director, IMD Bhubaneswar Centre; Executive Directors of the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA); and senior officers from various departments.