Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday, 22 June convened a high-level review of the state's disaster preparedness framework in Bhubaneswar, directing all departments to adopt a 'whole-of-government approach' to counter the potential impact of El Niño on the kharif farming season. The meeting, chaired by Majhi under the State-Level Natural Calamity Committee, underscored Odisha's intent to protect both lives and agricultural livelihoods ahead of what could be a challenging monsoon cycle.

El Niño and the Kharif Season Risk

According to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), the review meeting held detailed deliberations on how El Niño could suppress annual rainfall and disrupt crop planning across the state. Majhi directed the Agriculture Department to prepare a comprehensive contingency plan to cushion the agricultural sector against adverse weather outcomes. A state-level monitoring mechanism has been activated to track rainfall patterns, reservoir water levels, crop planning timelines, and the supply chain for fertilisers and seeds on a rolling basis.

Fertiliser Security Amid Global Uncertainty

With ongoing instability in the Middle East threatening to trigger a global fertiliser shortage, district collectors have been instructed to closely monitor the availability of urea and complex fertilisers and ensure adequate stocks of nano urea wherever required. To prevent black-marketing, monitoring committees have been constituted in every gram panchayat to oversee fertiliser distribution and availability at the grassroots level.

Odisha's Disaster Management Record

Majhi highlighted the state's globally recognised 'Zero Casualty' policy during the meeting. He noted that at a recent technical meeting of the BRICS Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group held in Puri, member nations praised Odisha's long-standing disaster mitigation mechanisms. Citing large-scale evacuations during Cyclone Mocha and Cyclone Dana, the Chief Minister credited coordinated government action for minimising casualties. The state has also declared untimely rainfall a state-specific disaster, enabling affected farmers to access formal assistance and relief.

Infrastructure and Force Expansion

Each of the state's 911 multipurpose cyclone shelters receives ₹6 lakh annually from district administrations for maintenance and to ensure drinking water, lighting, and cooking arrangements are in place before any disaster strikes. The existing 20 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams and 347 fire service stations are fully equipped and operationally ready, while the process of raising 10 additional ODRAF units is currently underway. 'The combined efforts of the government and the people are essential to preserve Odisha's distinct identity and achievements in disaster management. All departments must work in close coordination and remain committed to safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of the people of Odisha,' Majhi said.

What Comes Next

The Agriculture Department is expected to submit its El Niño contingency plan shortly, with implementation timelines tied to the progression of the monsoon. The activation of gram-panchayat-level fertiliser monitoring committees signals that the state is moving from planning to ground-level execution well before the peak sowing season.