Pre-Flood and Cyclone preparedness meeting held in the Department of Water Resources

1.  With the cooperation of all concerned, the department has successfully managed the flood last year.

2.  DC-cum ACS, DoWR Smt. Garg sensitized Officers and Engineers to prepare for ensuing flood season.

14th MAY 2023 (Odisha Tazanews) Bhubaneswar  :- In view of the possible floods and cyclones in the upcoming rainy season, a Pre Flood- Cyclone preparedness meeting was held in the Department of Water Resources, Odisha on Friday. Presiding over the meeting Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary, Odisha, DoWR Smt. Anu Garg, IAS sensitized the Officers and Engineers to be prepared for ensuing flood season. Engineer in Chief, DoWR Shri Bhakta Ranjan Mohanty, Senior Officials and Engineers of the department were present in the meeting.

Chief Engineers and ACEs of DoWR of different divisions from respective river basins attended the meeting through virtual mode. In the meeting, EIC, DoWR , Mr. Mohanty, presented detailed data on flood and cyclone preparedness through PPT and apprised about the status of 8 major Water Reservoirs and 47 Medium Reservoirs of 11 river basins in Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani,Subarnarekha and other rivers in the State. In this context, the EIC said that,last year in august 2022, when about 12 lakh cusecs of flood water was flowing, we successfully managed the flood. The status of our large and medium water reservoirs is good this year. Based on our Model of flood management, we will be able to successfully manage the possible floods and cyclones in the coming days, Mohanty revealed. Smt. Garg, DC-cum-ACS, DoWR while praising the Officers, Engineers and field level staff for their relentless effort in managing flood last year, said that ,

we have to work with more care and cautious without being complacent with it. Smt. Garg suggested all to go through our shortcomings in dealing with the flood last year and prepare for the upcoming floods and cyclones accordingly. Smt. Garg advised all concerned to check the condition of the gates/sluice gates remains in order to manage flood and also to conserve water after the flood water is released. She also directed all concerned to be vigilant and to see the condition of roads and repair those immediately so that the roads of river embankments are motorable for transportation of essential commodities and movement of public. Smt. Garg also directed immediate attention of Engineers and take steps to repair the embankments as soon as there were reports of minor piping during the flood(s).

In the meeting it revealed that all breaches occurred in last time Flood have been arrested and some repairing works are in the final stages of completion. Earlier, concerned Additional CEs of DoWR were directed to send joint verification reports on the status of various embankments of respective districts through Collectors. Joint inspection works have been completed in all the districts. There are a total of 7473.206 km of embankments under various water resources divisions of the State. Out of this, 1635.945 km is saline. Discussions have been held on status of gates/sluice gates, weak and vulnerable points in different river and water reservoirs embankments. The process of availability at essential locations and procuring division-wise sand bags, machine and equipment required to manage floods is underway like every year. Officers and engineers have been advised to keep with the agencies responsible for the above arrangements, to share their telephone numbers and be in regular touch.

In the meeting ACS also directed that telephone numbers of contact officers should be shared to all concerned for emergency communication. Meetings are being held at the district level with public representatives, district and local administrations, NGOs to manage the possible flood-cyclone. The Water Resources department authorities have been asked to keep in touch with the district administration, Police administration and local public representatives.

The flood control room at Secha Sadan will function round-the-clock from June 1 to October 31. Similarly, control rooms will be operational in the division and circle offices and it has been directed to be monitored by concerned ACEs and CEs. Discussions was held on regular dissemination of flood-related bulletins, informing everyone concerned about the warning before releasing the flood waters from reservoirs , and also publication and broadcast in the media.

On the other hand, the CEs concerned have been directed to be in touch with the engineers of the neighbouring States to know the amount of inflow of water to enter to different reservoirs during the flood(s). ACS Smt Garg has also advised that the newly appointed Junior Engineers in DoWR to be trained enough on how to patrol during floods at the field level and expect cent per cent service from them. EIC,(P&D), MD,OLIC, Chief Engineer & BM, Mahanadi-Kathajodi System, CE, HH & GIS, CEM, Bhubaneswar, CE, Minor Irrigation, CE, Drainage, CE, Monitoring, Odisha & CE, Engineer Dam Safety, Odisha were present in the meeting.