Bhubaneswar: The cyclone and flood shelters across the state will be repaired by the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department.
About 814 Multipurpose Cyclone Shelters (MCS) and Multipurpose Flood Shelters (MFS) have been handed over to the department for regular maintenance work that would include civil works, door and window repair besides ensuring water supply, sanitation facilities, electricity installation and painting works.
It may be noted here that the Sate Executive Committee (SEC) constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, in a recent meeting chaired by Odisha Chief Secretary A P Padhi, decided to hand over the repair and maintenance works of all MCS and MFS to the Panchayati Raj department.
The cyclone shelters and flood shelters were built after Super Cyclone 1999 to provide safe shelter during natural disasters like cyclone and flood.
Constructed by Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), these shelters reduce disaster risk and vulnerability during natural calamities. The structures were extensively used during Phailin providing shelter to the evacuated people.