The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) has signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and CivicDataLab to strengthen scientific, data-driven and technology-enabled disaster management in the state.

The agreements were signed at the Lok Seva Bhawan Convention Centre in the presence of Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, UNDP India Resident Representative Angela Lusigi and CivicDataLab Director and Co-founder Gaurav Godhwani. OSDMA Executive Director Susmita Behera signed the MoUs on behalf of the authority.

Speaking at the event, Minister Pujari said disaster management must move beyond post-disaster response and focus on anticipatory action, preparedness and risk assessment based on accurate and timely data. He said data-driven decision-making would help save lives, protect property and support effective development planning.

HRVA to Cover All 30 Districts

Under the OSDMA-UNDP partnership, a comprehensive Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (HRVA) will be conducted across all 30 districts. Data will be collected at the village level in 10 coastal districts vulnerable to cyclones and floods, while Gram Panchayat-level assessment will be undertaken in the remaining 20 districts.

The data will support a dynamic GIS-enabled platform that can be updated according to changing climate and risk patterns. It will also help prepare district-level risk atlases and strengthen evidence-based policymaking.

Digital Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction

The non-financial MoU with CivicDataLab will facilitate the development of a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Disaster Risk Reduction. Its Intelligent Data Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDS-DRR) platform will integrate data from multiple departments and provide real-time dashboards and analytical insights to OSDMA and District Disaster Management Authorities.

Initially, the platform will focus on riverine floods, coastal flooding and heatwave risks, supporting improved forecasting and faster decision-making.

Minister Pujari said the initiatives would strengthen Odisha’s capacity to anticipate disasters and contribute to the state’s ‘Zero Casualty’ goal, helping build a safer, climate-ready and disaster-resilient Odisha.

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