Bhubaneswar, Aug 20: Odisha’s Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi to push for enhanced support in strengthening the state’s disaster management system. Pujari emphasized that Odisha, with its long coastline, remains highly vulnerable to recurring cyclones, floods, and coastal erosion, and therefore requires urgent intervention and central assistance.

The state has proposed the construction of 500 multipurpose disaster shelters at an estimated cost of ₹2,000 crore. These shelters will serve as vital community safe spaces during calamities, offering protection and emergency relief to thousands of families.

To improve preparedness, the government has sought ₹200 crore for the expansion and upgradation of the Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS), ensuring faster and wider alert mechanisms in disaster-prone regions.

Odisha has also proposed an ₹8,363 crore project for developing resilient energy infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather, ensuring uninterrupted power supply during natural disasters.

The state further requested support for coastal erosion control measures and the involvement of national-level organizations to conduct scientific surveys, cost-benefit analyses, and recommend funding through ADB or other schemes.

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