Panchayati Raj Department to repair cyclone shelters

Bhubaneswar: The Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department  will now look into the repairing of cyclone and flood shelters across the state.

As many as 814 Multipurpose Cyclone Shelters (MCS) and Multipurpose Flood Shelters (MFS) have been handed over to the department for regular maintenance work that would include civil works, door & window repair besides ensuring water supply, sanitation facilities, electricity installation and painting works.

It may be noted that the  Sate Executive Committee (SEC) constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, in a recent meeting chaired by Odisha Chief Secretary AP Padhi, decided to hand over the repair and maintenance works of all MCS and MFS to the Panchayati Raj department.

Notably, the cyclone shelters and flood shelters were built after Super Cyclone 1999 to provide safe shelter during natural disasters like cyclone and flood.

Constructed by Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), these shelters reduce disaster risk and vulnerability during natural calamities. The structures were extensively used during Cyclone Phailin providing shelter to the evacuated people.