Bhubaneswar, September 22: Amid heavy rain in several parts of Odisha, the Housing & Urban Development Department held a high-level meeting on strengthening urban flood preparedness, tackling waterlogging and modernising storm-water drainage systems across the State.
The meeting, chaired by Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Usha Padhee, discussed preparation of DPRs, funding arrangements, technical support, capacity building and institutional mechanisms for implementing flood-management measures.
The focus will cover all six Municipal Corporations and major towns, particularly areas requiring priority interventions. Padhee directed officials to prepare a clear action plan with defined responsibilities and timelines and ensure coordination among all relevant agencies, including the Central Water Commission.
For storm-water management, the Urban Planning Section was asked to take up the issue on priority and explore an institutional mechanism for implementing Storm-Water Action Plans, preparing DPRs and providing technical support.
The meeting also discussed urban heatwave preparedness, nature-based measures such as plantation, capacity building of officials and long-term measures to strengthen urban resilience.
Padhee stressed that immediate measures should be combined with medium- and long-term interventions to reduce urban flooding and waterlogging and provide tangible relief to citizens before next summer.
