Bhubaneswar, 15 November (H.S.): The Odisha Government has intensified its flood preparedness in view of the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) forecast of a developing low-pressure system over the southeast Bay of Bengal.

The Department of Water Resources (DoWR) has initiated precautionary measures to ensure an effective response to any potential flood situation in the state. A high-level virtual review meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Engineer-in-Chief, Water Resources; Engineer-in-Chief, Planning and Design; and Engineer-in-Chief, Schemes and Monitoring.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Engineer of the Rishikulya, Bahuda, Vamsadhara and Nagavali (RBVN) basin, Additional Chief Engineers and all concerned Superintending Engineers.

The discussions focused on reservoir management, assessment of anticipated rainfall and preparedness to handle possible increases in river flows and reservoir inflows.

Particular attention was given to the increased water storage following Cyclone Arnab in 10 medium reservoirs, including eight in Ganjam district and two in Gajapati district. The officials reviewed the prevailing storage levels and assessed the implications of the latest weather forecasts.

The meeting also finalised a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) outlining the necessary measures to be taken in response to the evolving weather conditions.

Emphasis was laid on continuous monitoring of water levels, effective coordination among different divisions and timely decision-making to minimise potential flood risks.

Reaffirming its commitment to public safety and proactive flood management, the Water Resources Department stressed the importance of constant vigilance, advance planning and coordinated action.

The Odisha Government is also focusing on safeguarding critical water infrastructure, protecting downstream habitations and strengthening the state's preparedness to effectively deal with emerging weather-related challenges.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda