Odisha’s own flood forecasting model
The Odisha government has developed a Real Time Flood Forecasting Model for the entire Mahanadi river basin and set up a State Drought Monitoring Centre (SDMC).
“This flood forecasting model will help us in accomplishing better flood control and its management through early warning systems in the Mahanadi basin which has special relevance and greater significance in the context of climate change," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said at a function on Wednesday.
The model is supported by the State Climate Change Innovation programme, Patnaik said adding that Odisha is vulnerable to multiple types of disasters due to its topography, river networks, sub-tropical littoral location.
The state has 11 river basins and Mahanadi basin is the largest inter-state river basin.
Stating that Odisha was the first state in the country to implement Climate Change Action plan, Patnaik said the water resources department should continue to work on improving the efficiency of the model and train its staff in a better way so that its outcome can be utlised in planning and support system.
Patnaik also thanked the DFID for providing full support to the state for developing this Real Time Flood Forecasting Model.
Chief Secretary A P Padhi on Tuesday night announced the setting up of the State Drought Monitoring Centre. The SDMC will operate at Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) office here with the aim of accomplishing flawless assessment and management of drought situation in the state.
An expert committee, under the chairmanship of OSDMA Managing Director P K Mohapatra, has been formed for the purpose. Weather experts, hydrologists, agriculture scientists, soil experts are members of this committee.
On the functioning of the State Drought Monitoring Centre, OSDMA MD Mohapatra said the state has signed a pact with Karnataka State Disaster Management Centre for technical support.
As per the plan, data on weather condition, rainfall and humidity of soil at field level would be recorded every week of the year. Weekly report on the condition of paddy fields would also be collected, Mohapatra said.