The Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) Department held a high-level meeting on Monday to chalk out strategies for urban heatwave and flood preparedness and modernisation of storm-water drainage systems across Odisha.
The meeting was chaired by Additional Chief Secretary, H&UD Department, Usha Padhee, at Kharavela Bhawan. State Relief Commissioner Rajesh Pravakar Patil, Director of Municipal Administration Arindam Dakua, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Commissioner Chanchal Rana and other senior officials attended the meeting.
The discussions focused on developing a coordinated Action Plan covering immediate, medium- and long-term interventions for all six Municipal Corporations and priority urban areas under other Urban Local Bodies.
Padhee stressed the need to identify urban heatwave hotspots and implement common measures that can provide visible relief to citizens before the next summer. She also called for long-term interventions, including plantation and other nature-based solutions, in coordination with the Forest Department.
The meeting also discussed preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), funding arrangements, technical support and institutional mechanisms. Relevant agencies, including the Central Water Commission, will be brought onto a common platform for coordinated implementation.
Capacity building was identified as another key priority, with the Odisha Urban Academy proposed as a platform for structured training of officials and technical personnel.
On storm-water management, Padhee directed the Urban Planning Section to prioritise the issue and proposed an MoU, followed by engagement of a Project Management Consultant through OWSSB. A dedicated cell or institutional mechanism was also proposed to support implementation of Storm-Water Action Plans.
The meeting emphasised coordinated implementation and tangible outcomes to strengthen urban resilience across the State.