Bhubaneswar, Oct 29: The disaster risk management (DRM) programme, implemented in Orissa's 11 districts vulnerable to natural calamities, is being extended to five more districts, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said today. The programme, which had already covered 103 blocks is intended to upgrade knowledge and skill levels of village communities, panchayatiraj institutions, block and district level government functionaries and members of the civil society, Patnaik said while addressing the Orissa Disaster Preparedness Day gathering here coinciding with the fourth anniversary of the 1999 super cyclone.
Patnaik said that the DRM programme had been implemented in 18,000 villages in about 2400 gram panchayats while disaster management plans had been prepared in 1900 villages, 97 gram panchayats and 55 blocks, he said.
Jointly organised by the Orissa State Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA), UN agencies and NGOs, the programme was also addressed by Revenue Minister Biswabhushan Harichandan, Panchayatiraj Minister Damodar Rout, Development Commissioner Srinivas Rath and Agriculture Development Commissioner, Sanjib Chandra Hota. Chief secretary, Pratip Kumar Mohanty presided.
The Chief Minister said several steps had been taken to reduce peoples' vulnerability to disasters in flood and cyclone prone areas. Over 5500 primary schools and 950 high schools had been built which would serve as community shelters during emergencies.
About 5.35 lakh houses had been constructed under the Indira Awas Yojana while nearly 65,000 such houses were being built at present, he said.
Bureau Report