Bhubaneswar, Nov 15: In view of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast of a developing low-pressure system over the southeast Bay of Bengal, the Department of Water Resources (DoWR) has intensified its preparedness to effectively manage potential rainfall and flood situations across the state.

A high-level virtual review meeting was held under the chairmanship of Dillip Kumar Rout, Engineer-in-Chief, Water Resources.

The meeting held detailed discussions on anticipated rainfall, the possibility of increased river flows, expected reservoir inflows and strategic reservoir management to address any emerging situation. Particular attention was given to assessing the increased water storage following cyclone Arnab in eight medium reservoirs in Ganjam district and two medium reservoirs in Gajapati district.

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Taking into account the prevailing storage levels and evolving weather forecasts, the meeting also finalised a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to guide reservoir operations and preparedness measures during the upcoming weather event.

The review emphasised continuous monitoring of reservoir water levels, effective coordination among different divisions and timely decision-making to minimise potential flood-related risks. Field-level officials were also advised to maintain heightened vigilance and remain prepared to take prompt action as required.