Finance
The Odisha government launched a comprehensive, time-bound survey on Thursday to assess the widespread damage caused by Cyclone Montha’s severe rains and landslides in numerous districts of the state.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari stated that the state has directed all district administrations to do damage assessments and submit full reports within the next 72 hours. The survey will look at losses to standing crops, houses, roads, public infrastructure, and farmlands.
“The process of estimating the damages caused by the heavy rainfall triggered by the cyclone started today. We have instructed all district administrations to complete the damage assessment within three days,” Minister Pujari told mediapersons.
The cyclone struck during a key period for the agriculture sector, coinciding with harvest season. This timing has caused substantial damage to standing crops, particularly rice, cotton, and vegetables, in many locations where harvest was either complete or underway.
To speed the process, the government will use a “task force” strategy. Officials from revenue departments in districts that sustained little or no damage would be temporarily sent to help in the most affected areas.
“We have decided to mobilise revenue department officials from regions with negligible impact to expedite the estimation process in the affected zones,” Pujari added.
The minister also highlighted a new and concerning challenge emerging from the cyclone: landslides in hilly regions like Gajapati, which were not previously prone to such disasters.
“Landslides have become a new concern in certain parts of the state. We will carefully study their pattern and prepare an action plan to mitigate future risks,” Pujari stated.
He told impacted families that once the assessment reports are received, the government will implement swift relief and rehabilitation measures. District Collectors and departmental officers have been urged to maintain a high level of alertness and coordination in order to ensure the prompt restoration of damaged infrastructure and critical services.
Looking ahead, the minister stated that the state will create a specific disaster management strategy to better address secondary hazards such as landslides induced by future extreme weather events.
