Met predicts deficient rains in Odisha; Naveen Patnaik ready with contingency plans

BHUBANESHWAR: The Met Department is forecasting deficient rains but Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is taking no chances. Chairing a meeting of the State Level Committee on Natural Calamities, Patnaik asked all stakeholders to be ready with contingency plans with the arrival of the monsoons.

Patnaik’s deft handling of cyclone Plain, possible with a timely warning by the Met Department, had earned much praise from around the world.

”In spite of deficient rainfall prediction, floods cannot be totally ruled out and we have to remain in full preparedness to face any situation. In the event of flood, it is our responsibility to reach out to the affected people and provide due assistance at the earliest possible time,” said Patnaik.

Departments of Agriculture, Water Resources, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and other others concerned have also been given a week to prepare contingency plans for a possible deficient monsoon.

After Phailin passed by causing considerable damage, Odisha was faced with flash floods which says the government affected agricultural output for 2013-14. Wednesday's meeting was attended by senior government officials, several BJD ministers as well as opposition leaders such as Narasingha Mishra from the Congress and KV Singh Deo from BJP.