The Odisha government has sanctioned Rs 205 crores for the development of the state’s in-house disaster management team. This includes adding hi-tech equipment, imparting enhanced training, and capacity building. Chief Secretary AK Tripathy chaired a meeting at the State Executive Committee, where this decision was made.
Keeping in mind the intensity and frequency of natural disasters hitting the state, this decision was taken. Apart from natural calamities, the state also intends to be prepared for any sort of industrial disasters.
The Chief Secretary complimented the ODRAF (Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force) and the Fire Service Units for consistently maintaining high standards of service in West Bengal during the Cyclone Amphan. He mentioned that the Fire Service personnel now need to go beyond the traditional fire fighting and develop into ‘First Multi-hazard Responders’.
“At present, the Odisha Fire Service is equipped to respond to natural disasters in the state and extend helping hand to other States. The new training and equipment would further, sharpen their teeth to deal with different types of disasters”, said PK Jena, Additional Chief Secretary and Special Relief Commissioner of Odisha.
The state is planning to bring hi-tech collapsed structure search and rescue (CSSR) equipment and quick deponent antenna (QDA) for ODRAF and Fire Service Units along with instruments for the disaster management training cell. The Disaster Management Training Cell (DMTC) which is established in the Revenue Officers Training Institute (ROTI), Gothapatana has successfully trained 3,586 persons from ODRAF, Fire Services, Civil Defence, community-level volunteers, and others relating to disaster management, search, rescue, and first aid.
The meeting also took note of the progress regarding the repair and maintenance of the multipurpose cyclone/flood centres (MCS/MFS) operating in different places.