THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, OCTOBER 7, 2026

Odisha government on Wednesday stepped up its preparedness to deal with chemical disasters, with Chief Secretary Anu Garg stressing the need for advance risk identification, regular mock drills and strict safety audits to safeguard lives and property while sustaining industrial growth.

Garg chaired a high-level meeting of the State Crisis Group at Lok Seva Bhawan, where officials reviewed measures for prevention, preparedness, rapid response and post-accident management of chemical disasters across the state.

Emphasising that public safety must remain a top priority, Garg called for potential risks to be identified well in advance and for regular mock drills, safety audits and data-driven assessments to be undertaken at both district and local levels.

Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh stressed the need to bring departmental and district-level preparedness under a unified framework. He also called for GIS-based mapping and periodic reviews of off-site emergency plans, particularly in relation to chemical transportation routes.

Director General of Fire Services Dr Sudhanshu Sarangi underlined the importance of trained manpower, specialised emergency vehicles and coordinated exercises involving various emergency response agencies to ensure an effective response during chemical accidents.

Director General of Police Vinaytosh Mishra and secretaries of key departments, including Health, Commerce and Transport, Environment and Labour, also participated in the meeting. Discussions focused on strengthening medical preparedness, maintaining robust databases and enhancing the capabilities of emergency control rooms.

The meeting directed all concerned departments and industrial authorities to strictly adhere to prescribed safety guidelines and implement precautionary protocols within a stipulated timeframe.

The measures are aimed at strengthening Odisha's institutional capacity to prevent chemical accidents, ensure faster and coordinated emergency response and minimise the impact of such incidents on human lives and property.