Odisha H&UD Dept puts ULBs on alert for heavy rain

Bhubaneswar: In view of the forecast of heavy rainfall across Odisha over the next couple of days due to a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal, the Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Department on Monday advised all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to remain fully alert and undertake preparations to deal with flooding, waterlogging and other rain-related contingencies.

According to an official statement, ULBs, particularly those in the southern districts, have been asked to maintain close vigil and take proactive measures to ensure citizens' safety and minimise disruption to normal life.

All Municipal Commissioners and Executive Officers have been directed to keep Rapid Action Teams (RATs) ready for immediate deployment wherever required. The department said precautionary measures must be taken in advance in identified low-lying and waterlogging-prone areas, with continuous monitoring of vulnerable locations.

ULBs have also been advised to keep MPCS and other temporary shelters ready and facilitate timely evacuation from vulnerable areas to safer locations, if necessary.

The Department further directed ULBs to ensure operational readiness of dewatering pumps, essential equipment and machinery, and adequate manpower to enable prompt response to incidents of waterlogging or flooding.

Besides field-level preparedness, the department emphasised effective coordination among concerned teams and timely deployment of resources to facilitate immediate intervention wherever required.

The department also added that all ULBs must strictly adhere to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and instructions issued by the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) and the H&UD Department itself.

“They have also been advised to maintain close coordination with the concerned district administration and other line departments and remain prepared to respond promptly to any emerging situation,” the statement said.

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