Bhubaneswar, Mar 24: The Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) Department, in collaboration with Odisha Fire Services, organized a high-level virtual workshop yesterday to promote fire safety awareness and preparedness across the state.
The primary objective of the session was to synchronize emergency response protocols and enhance the technical readiness of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) throughout Odisha.
Sudhansu Sarangi, Director General of Fire Services, led the technical briefing, offering essential insights on preventive measures, the use of modern firefighting equipment, and the significance of institutional preparedness. He praised the H&UD Department for being the first in the state to host such a comprehensive sensitization program, setting a new benchmark for inter-departmental coordination on fire safety.
Sarangi also announced that a state-wide fire safety mock drill would take place on Saturday, March 28, and urged all ULBs to cooperate actively for its successful execution.
The workshop, held under the leadership of Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary of the H&UD Department, emphasized the need to integrate fire safety as a core element of urban governance, rather than a mere compliance requirement. Padhee directed all ULBs to incorporate fire safety measures into the Mukhya Mantri Sahari Bikas Yojana (MSBY) in the upcoming financial year.
The virtual session saw participation from Commissioners of all Municipal Corporations, Executive Officers of Municipalities and Notified Area Councils (NACs), as well as Fire Officers and Deputy Fire Officers. This ensured a unified approach to fire safety across the state. The discussions centered around three key pillars-preparedness, prevention, and public awareness-especially in light of recent fire incidents.
The H&UD Department reaffirmed its commitment to building fire-resilient cities, outlining a series of action points, including ongoing sensitization for officials and citizens, mandatory periodic safety inspections of both public and private establishments, and grassroots-level campaigns on fire prevention and emergency response.
Arindam Dakua, Director of Municipal Administration, stressed the importance of a coordinated, state-wide approach to fire safety across all Urban Local Bodies.
The workshop concluded with clear directives to all ULB heads to initiate safety audits and awareness drives within their jurisdictions to mitigate risks and prevent future fire-related incidents.
