Odisha Govt to Fund Urban Flood Management Projects in 10 Cities; Drainage Upgrade Plan Approved

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to provide financial assistance for urban flood management projects in 10 cities as part of a comprehensive strategy to tackle waterlogging and flooding caused by heavy and prolonged rainfall.

The decision was taken at a high-level review meeting held in Bhubaneswar, where officials discussed measures to strengthen urban drainage systems and improve disaster preparedness amid changing weather patterns.

10 Urban Centres to Get Financial Assistance

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the first phase of the programme will cover 10 urban areas, with funds being released during the current financial year.

The projects will be implemented in coordination with the Housing and Urban Development Department, which has been directed to prepare and submit the list of selected cities.

The initiative will be financed through the Disaster Management Fund.

IIT Roorkee to Provide Technical Support

The meeting also reviewed the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and IIT Roorkee for scientific urban flood management.

Officials from IIT Roorkee presented the Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared for improving drainage infrastructure and water discharge systems in flood-prone urban areas.

Focus on Coastal Disaster Preparedness

Apart from urban flood mitigation, the state government is also planning to modernise nearly 580 kilometres of Odisha’s coastline to strengthen early warning systems and improve disaster preparedness against cyclones and potential tsunami threats.

Authorities will also intensify awareness campaigns in 381 coastal villages, educating residents about evacuation procedures, emergency response and disaster preparedness.

Landslide Risk Reduction Also Planned

The government is preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for landslide-prone regions to minimise risks in vulnerable areas.

Officials informed the meeting that 381 tsunami-prone villages have been identified for development as Tsunami-Ready Villages through community-based disaster management initiatives.

Of these, 26 villages have already received recognition under the IOC-UNESCO Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme.

OSDMA, INCOIS to Strengthen Warning Systems

The meeting also reviewed efforts to modernise Odisha’s tsunami preparedness.

The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) is working with the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad, to enhance forecasting capabilities and strengthen early warning systems.

Minister Suresh Pujari directed officials to further improve rapid warning mechanisms to enhance the state’s disaster resilience in the coming years.