ODISHA RELIEF CODE

PRAVAT RANJAN MOHAPATRADeputy Relief Commissioner

Government of Odisha

BACKGROUND & GENERAL PRINCIPLES

Serves as an operational guide in relief matters Supersedes Bihar & Orissa Famine Code 1930 Applicable for administration of relief measures in the

entire state in respect of natural calamities and firehazards

Loss of life & property due to animal menace kept out ofpurview of Code for which separate law is available

Comprised of 17 Chapters Separate Chapters for each major calamity i.e. Drought,

Floods, Cyclone & Fire Accidents Forms for Reports and Returns Also contain Rules for Rainfall Registration

NATURAL CALAMITIES

• Drought

• Flood Cyclone & Tidal Disasters

• Earthquake & Volcanic

Eruption

• Heavy Rain

• Heat Wave

• Gale wind

• Tornado

• Hail Storm

• Fire Accident• Accidents relating to

communication & TransportServices

• Lightning

• Thunder Squall

• Virulent Epidemics

• Locust Menaces

• Pest Attack

• Other calamities

OBJECTIVE OF RELIEF MEASURES Ensure that no one dies of starvation Prevent physical deterioration and destitution of the

people and to enable them to resume their ordinarypursuits of life on return of better times and

Simultaneously, to encourage the village community inmaking concerted and continuous efforts to fight acommon misfortune.

Boosting of the morale of the public in times of disasters Approach to relief to be both preventive as well as

maintenance of a common standard of economic healthof the people.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES REGULATING RELIEFMEASURES Integration of development and relief planning of the areas

affected by natural calamity Shelf of projects to be kept ready to be switched into

operation on the occurrence of natural calamity Drought & flood proofing through relief work which will take

care of food & drinking water problem in the long run Gratuitous relief only when absolutely necessary Assistance to farmers in shape of easy availability of seeds

and seedlings, irrigation facility, supply of credit, eradicationof pest attack, remission/ suspension of land revenue/collection of loans

Policy is not to be relief centric

ADMINISTRATIVE RELIEF ORGANISATION

ADMINISTRATIVE RELIEF ORGANISATION• Relief management is a collective responsibility of the State Government• Revenue & DM Department and Special Relief Commissioner coordinate

the work of all the Departments in regard to relief operations.• The Departments mainly associated are-

• Agriculture• Cooperation• Water Resources• Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare• Health & Family Welfare• Fisheries & Animal Resources Development• Women & Child Development• Panchayati Raj• Rural Development• Housing & Urban Development• Works• School & Mass Education• Higher Education• ST & SC Development

RELIEF AUTHORITIES AT OTHER LEVELS

Revenue Divisional Commissioners Other Heads of Departments Collectors Sub-Collectors Tahasildars Block Development Authorities (Block is the unit of

Relief Organisation with BDO in charge of the unit) State level Committee on Natural Calamities District level Committee on Natural Calamities Panchayat Samities and Gram Panchayats are also

associated.

DROUGHT

PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS

Rain recording Report on Weather and Crop Situation from

June to October

CROP LOSS ASSESSMENT Crop assessment to be undertaken by the RI through eye

estimation and crop cutting experiments

Eye estimation survey to be undertaken in every village.

Crop cutting experiments shall be taken up only in the villagewhere the crop loss appears to be more than 50% on eyeestimation survey.

Sample crop cutting experiment may be undertaken in thevillage where it becomes doubtful to determine the loss i.e.50% or less through eye estimation.

If sample crop cutting experiment indicates loss to be 50% ormore, crop cutting experiments shall be undertaken in thatvillage to determine the actual loss.

At least one sample crop cutting experiment shall beundertaken in a representative village of theGrampanchayat, where no village appears to havecrop loss of 50% and more on eye estimation.

If the sample crop cutting experiment indicates croploss of 50% and more, then crop cutting experimentsshall be undertaken in each and every village toascertain actual loss.

The crop cutting experiments shall be carried onrepresentative fields with the consent of the owner inhis presence and presence of two important personsof the village.

CROP LOSS ASSESSMENTCONTD…

The representative field is to be selected by the RIhimself in not less than three fields taken at random in avillage.

The Supervising Officer may select another field anddirect the R.I. to undertake sample survey in that field ifhe considers that the field selected by the R.I. is notrepresentative.

Fields on which the crops are fairly good shall be avoided.

The Area from which the crop will be cut shall be a squarehaving length & breadth of 25 links each i.e. 1/160th ofan acre.

CROP LOSS ASSESSMENTCONTD…

DECLARATION OF DROUGHT

Crop loss report by Collector to RDC & SRC by 15th

January Ordinarily the drought is declared by the

Government on the basis of such crop lossassessment report and views of RDC

Govt. in special circumstances may declaredrought before compilation of such reports on thebasis of monthly situation of collectors and viewsof RDCs

Relief Operations to commence after declarationof drought normally

DROUGHT RELIEF MEASURES

Ensuring supply line of food (Food & Fodder) Gratuitous relief Feeding programme Access to forest produce even by cancelling lease of

contractors Labour intensive work Provision of drinking water

Construction/ deepening of surface wells & tanks Installation/ repair of tube wells Temporary surface wells (Chua) Carriage of water at Govt. cost Vats for animals

DROUGHT RELIEF MEASURES ….CONTD

Provision of immediate irrigation facilities Lift irrigation points to be energized Arrear of water rate not be insisted upon Cultivators to be allowed to pay water rate in easy

instalment Facilitate supply of pump sets Construction of temporary earth bunds acroos

flowing streams, nullahs etc to divert water forsaving crops, etc.

DROUGHT RELIEF MEASURES ….CONTD

Suspension of collection of loans Relief to students in shape of exemption of

school/ college fees including admission &examination fees, supply of text book free of cost

Enquiry on report of starvation death within 48hours and follow up action to review the reliefmeasures of that area

Verification of press reports and issue ofcontradiction, if any

CLOSURE OF RELIEF OPERATION

Drought relief operation to continue till nextrainy season (end of June) when agriculturallabourers get adequate employment.

Gratuitous relief and feeding programme not tobe closed down abruptly but to be reviewed andslowed down in a gradual manner.

Water supply to close from July Order of SRC to be taken to continue beyond

June.

FLOOD

State is extremely vulnerable to flood 11 major river systems Hilly areas experience flash floods Flooding in delta continues for longer duration Discharge of water is further delayed during full moon

/ new moon period 27 districts were affected by flood in 2006

STATE’S VULNERABILITY TO FLOOD

11 Major River Systems of the State

ANNUAL RAINFALL

Average Annual Rainfall of State-1451.2 mm Maximum - 1667.6 mm (Malkangiri) Minimum - 1276 mm(Ganjam) South-West Monsoon breaks in Orissa around 10th

June and withdraws in Mid October More than 75% of annual rainfall is received during

June to September 8 to 10 depressions occur during this period which

cause most of the rainfall

FLOOD RELIEF MEASURES

Pre-flood arrangement Action during floods Post-flood arrangement Closure of flood relief operation

PREPAREDNESS MEASURES

This being the most important stage of action.para-45 of Odisha Relief Code (ORC) requires theCollector himself to look into these arrangementsin the month of May itself.

Convening a Meeting of the District LevelCommittee on Natural Calamities; (Para-46)

Functioning of the Control Rooms; (Para-47) Closure of past breaches in river and canal

embankments and guarding of weak points.(Para-46)

PREPAREDNESS MEASURES CONTD…

Rain-recording and submission of rainfall reports;(Para-49)

Communication of gauge-readings and preparationof maps and charts; (Para-50)

Assigning charge of Flood Circles; (Para-51) Dissemination of weather reports and flood bulletins

issued by the Meteorological Centre and CentralFlood Forecasting Division at Bhubaneswar. (Para-52)

Tracking weather bulletins from IMD website Dissemination of info to SP, EE (WR), Sub-Collector,

Tdrs, BDOs, Flood Circle Officers who willdisseminate the same to people

PREPAREDNESS MEASURESCONTD…

Deployment of boats at strategic points; (Para-53 & 54)

Installation of temporary Police WirelessStations and temporary telephones in flood-prone areas. (Para-55)

Arrangements for keeping telephone andtelegraph lines in order; (Para-56)

Storage of food in interior, vulnerable strategicand key areas; (Para-57)

PREPAREDNESS MEASURESCONTD…

Arrangements of dry food stuff and othernecessaries of life; (Para-58)

Arrangements for keeping drainage clear;(Para-59)

Selection of flood shelters; (Para-60) Evacuation plan with escape route Advance arrangements for army assistance;

(Para-61) Training in flood relief work; (Para-62)

PREPAREDNESS MEASURESCONTD… Organisation of relief parties; (Para-63) Agricultural measures (Agriculture contingency

plan); Health measures (Stocking of medicines, ORS,

public health arrangement, arrangement fororganizing medical teams)

Veterinary measures (Pre-flood immunization, pre-positioning of medicines, ORS, public healtharrangement, arrangement for organizing medicalteams)

Review of pre-flood arrangements by Collector (bythe end of June)

ACTION DURING AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER FLOOD

Relief parties for relief & rescue operation to be sent out Emergent relief and shelter to people in distress to be

provided Emergent relief and shelter to the people in distress may

be provided In case efforts of the civil authorities are considered

inadequate, army assistance may be requisitioned. Relief measures by non-official and voluntary

organisations may been listed as far as possible. Daily situation reports to RDC & SRC till dangers are

over

POST- FLOOD MEASURES

Disposal of dead bodies of human, cattle andother animals

Assessment of crop damage and agriculturalmeasures like

Assessment of flood damage by otherdepartments

Submission of preliminary and final damagereports

FOUR STAGES OF REPORTING

FOUR STAGES OF REPORTING has beenprescribed under the Orissa Relief Codeand executive instructions, such as-

First Information Report (FIR) Daily Situation Report Preliminary Damage Report Final Damage Report

FIRST INFORMATION REPORT

This report is to be transmitted –by the District Administration to the Special ReliefCommissioner (SRC)within 18 hours of occurrence of any disasterSRC will transmit the same to National EmergencyOperation Centre functioning under the Ministry ofHome Affairs, GoI within 24 hours of occurrence ofthe disasterState Government desires that it must get thisinformation from Government sources and not knowfrom media sources.

FIRST INFORMATION REPORT

To ensure that FIR is sent within 18 hours –Tahasildars and BDOs must be responsible to trackand provide information in their area under theirjurisdiction.Tahasildars/ BDOs are to distribute this responsibilityamong their RIs/ RS/ Extension Officers/ ExecutiveOfficers of GPs (VLWs) to provide informationimmediately after occurrence of any disaster.For that purpose, RIs/ RS/ Extension Officers/Executive Officers of GPs (VLWs) have to makearrangements to get information from every village.

DAILY SITUATION REPORT

Paragraph 71 of Orissa Relief Code provides the format forsubmission of daily situation report on floods from theFlood Zone Officers up to State level from the date ofoccurrence of the flood till after three days of theabatement of the last phase of flood.Now, a revised format has been circulated by Governmentof India for submission of Daily Situation Report startingfrom 1st June till 15th October uninterruptedly.Nil report has to be sent even if there is no disaster event.

PRELIMINARY DAMAGE REPORT

Preliminary Damage Report is to be prepared asaccurately as possible as the relief measures are to bebased on the merit and statistical data of that report.

Paragraph 76 of Orissa Relief Code provides forsubmission of Preliminary Damage Report.

An exhaustive format has been prescribed under OrissaRelief Code (see Appendix – X) covering all requiredpoints and requiring submission of damage informationby all relevant Departments.

TIMINGS FOR SUBMISSION OF PRELIMINARYDAMAGE REPORT

From To Timing

Collectors RDC, SRC & Revenue& DM Department

Immediately afterassessment of flooddamages

District level Officers Their respective Headsof Departments andSRC

-do-

Heads of theDepartments

AdministrativeDepartments & SRC

Not later than twoweeks from the date ofabatement of flood

SRC Revenue & DMDepartment

Within two weeks ofreceipt of the reportsfrom the Heads ofDepartments

FINAL DAMAGE REPORT

Paragraph 77 of Orissa Relief Code providesfor submission of Final Damage Report. Theformat for such report is same as for preliminarydamage report.

Accidental errors, clerical mistakes andshortcomings, if any noticed, should be rectifiedin the final report.

TIMINGS FOR SUBMISSION OF THE FINALDAMAGE REPORT

From To Timing

Collectors RDC, SRC & Revenue& DM Department

Not later than onemonth after assessmentof flood damages

Heads of theDepartments

SRC Not later than onemonth after assessmentof flood damages

SRC Revenue & DMDepartment

Soon after receipt of thereports from theCollectors and Heads ofDepartments

State Government Central Government Immediately on receiptof the reports from theSRC and differentDepartments

RELIEF MEASURES

Gratuitous relief House building grant House building loan House building grant to private institutions Repair of other private institutions Labour intensive work Allotment of elevated house sites Housing and rehabilitation

CLOSURE OF FLOOD RELIEF OPERATION

Ordinarily, flood relief operation to continue upto 31st March of next year

May be extended up to June end by the govt.

LONG TERM MEASURES AGAINST FLOODS

Construction of village mounds and shelterhouses;

Construction of sea-defence belt and raising ofshelter belt plantation, etc.

Completion of the system of dams in rivers; Simplification of net work of river branches; Raising of embankments; Dredging of the river and canal beds. Roads, buildings, aforestation, problem of

shipping, fishery, etc. may also be taken up

CYCLONE & TIDAL DISASTERS

SEASONALITY/ PERIODICITY

Cyclones generally occur in Odisha before andafter the rainy season.

October is the most crucial month for theOdisha coast.

The other months in which storms affect Odishacoast with lesser frequencies are May,September and November.

Cyclone of 1971 and the super cyclone of 1999,which claimed nearly 10,000 people each,occurred in October.

The Very sever cyclonic storm PHAILIN alsooccurred in October 2013

CYCLONE PRONE AREAS

Cyclones ordinarily hit the districts in thecoastal belt and those adjoining them.

As per the bench mark of 1999 super cyclone,14 districts namely Balasore, Bhadrak,Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Ganjam,Jajpur, Cuttack, Khordha, Nayagarh, Gajapati,Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Dhenkanal areconsidered cyclone prone districts.

Due to PHAILIN, other districts on its path werealso affected and far of districts were affectedby flood.

Expected Maximum Tidal Surge

FOUR-STAGE WARNING FOR TROPICAL CYCLONES

“Pre-Cyclone Watch” containing early information about the developmentof a cyclonic disturbance in the North Indian Ocean, its likelydevelopment into a tropical cyclone and coastal belt likely to experienceadverse weather

“Cyclone Alert” at least 48 hours in advance of the expectedcommencement of adverse weather over the coastal areas

“Cyclone Warning” at least 24 hours in advance. These warningscontinue to be issued at 3 hours interval giving the latest position of thecyclone, its intensity (maximum sustained surface wind speed) and likelytime and point of landfall together with storm surge height and type ofdamage expected.

“Post Landfall Scenario” is issued to cover the devastating impacts ofthe cyclones of inland areas. This commences about 12 hours beforelandfall and continues till such time, as the cyclone-force winds areexpected to prevail in the interior areas. At this stage, the districtCollectors of all interior districts besides the coastal areas likely to beaffected are included in the bulletin.

“De-warning” - After the weakening of the cyclone into a depressionstage, a final message on de-warning is issued.

DISSEMINATION OF CYCLONE WARNING IMD issues weather bulletins as a routine for Merchant ships

twice daily through Radio Stations at Calcutta & Madras. It maintains a port warning service by which the Port Officers

are warned. It issues warnings to officers of the Fisheries Department in

the districts of Cuttack, Puri, and Balasore for fishermen andfishing vessels-against approaching storms of cyclones.

Rapid dissemination of cyclone warning is a basic need ofthe cyclone distress mitigation scheme.

As the telegraphic and other landline communications areinvariably the first victim during stormy weather, radio andtelevision are the only dependable medium of dissemination.

The police wireless grid is another medium fordissemination. Temporary police wireless Stations areinstalled in the vulnerable areas for the purpose.

For the safety of road transport services and bus depots, the transportorganisations should be kept appraised of the cyclone warnings by thedistrict authorities.

They should be instructed not to ply regular transport services to andfrom the threatened area except when their services are speciallyrequisitioned by the district authorities for evacuation and otheremergency operations.

Buses and other transport vans (other than those the services of whichare required for evacuation purposes) which happen to be in the arealikely' to be directly hit by the cyclones, should be asked to move out ofthe danger zone quickly.

Generally transportation should be prohibited on sections of roads andbridges which run the imminent danger of inundation due to flood wateror are direct targets of the cyclone winds.

WARNING FOR TRANSPORT SERVICES

DISSEMINATION THROUGH OFFICIAL CHHANEL

The State Emergency Opeartions Centre which functions in the officeof Special Relief Commissioner at Rajiv Bhawan, BhubaneswarControl Room of the Revenue Department round the clockthroughout the year communicates such warnings, soon after theirreceipt, to the subordinate offices by the quickest means ofcommunication.

The Collectors are required to see that dissemination of cyclonewarnings to the public is made through the Sub-Collectors,Tahasildars, Block Development Officers, Public Relation Officers,Chairman of Panchayat Samities, Sarpanches and other Governmentand non-Government agencies in time.

As far as possible, the local officers may warn the people throughbeat of drums or sirens or any other technically sophisticatedwarning system now it is done with the help of public address system

Simultaneously the people should be advised to shift to safer placesor to the cyclone shelters already notified by the Collector in advance.

CYCLONE SHELTERS

Every year the Collector shall undertake a survey of the coastal areasvulnerable to storms, cyclones and tidal inundations prior to the cyclone seasonand select suitable buildings for purposes of emergency shelter.

In choosing these building in tidal inundation areas, special care should betaken to select strong building in elevated places which can withstand bothtides and high winds.

Ordinarily community buildings, temples, mosques, churches, school buildings,storm shelters and such other strong built buildings of public nature in thevulnerable areas may be selected as cyclone shelters.

This selection may be made by the Collector himself or by his subordinateofficers and in the latter case the list is to be duly approved by him.

The Collector shall then prepare a map indicating the location of the emergencyshelters and safe buildings and display them in public offices, schools andcommunity centres, Railway station and such other places which are frequentedby the people for their information.

A copy of such map or list of such places, whichever can be arrangedconveniently, may be supplied to the District Public Relations Officer foreducating the people about the safe places for taking shelter in event of astorm, cyclone, or tidal bore.

EVACUATION Once the cyclone comes, there is no way of escape

but to take shelter in a suitable storm proof buildingor to run away from the storm.

Evacuation of people, cattle and livestock becomesnecessary from these areas where storm-proofelevated shelters are not available.

To persuade the people through radio broadcastsand T. V. Telecasts to vacate from low lying areas inthe coastal belt as well as from other areasthreatened by cyclones on receipt of the ‘alert'warning from the Meteorological Centre and takeshelter only in the cyclone shelters selected by theCollector to save their lives as well as their cattle andother livestock and property.

EMERGENT RELIEF

Emergent relief to the people, who shift to thecyclone shelters, has to be provided accordingto the prescribed scale to those who deservesuch relief.

The Collector may also provide clothing as anemergent relief if it is absolutely necessary.

The Collector shall inform the local VeterinaryOfficer to arrange fodder for the cattle andother livestock shifted by the people to thecyclone shelters if it is also felt absolutelynecessary.

OTHER PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES Arrangement of vehicles, boats and organisation of relief parties for

evacuation of people Vehicles, boats and relief parties should be gotready, as in case of apprehension of flood before a cyclone, so thatrelief and rescue measures can be undertaken both on receipt of alertwarning from the Meteorological Centre as well as immediately after thedisaster.

Arrangement of dry food stuff and other necessaries of life for givingemergent relief, the same procedure as laid down in paragraph 58 maybe followed.

Provision of drinking water supply. Arrangements for stocking of disinfectants should be made for

disinfecting water sources after the cyclone. Besides some standby provisions should be made by the Panchayat Raj

and Women & Child Welfare Department as well as Public HealthDepartment for. sinking new wells and tube wells.

Arrangements, for disposal of dead bodies of human beings and otheranimals, soon after a cyclone, are absolutely necessary. The designatedDepartments should make prior arrangements for this.

The Collector of the district has also a responsibility in thisregard. He must see to the preliminary arrangements done bythese Departments and keep his higher authorities informedof the difficulties, if any. The active co-operation of the localbodies should also be taken in this matter.

Precautionary measures against epidemics and other healthhazards. Chapter XI gives the guidelines for adoption ofnecessary measures in this respect.

Advance arrangements for Army assistance. The procedureoutlined in Paragraph 61 may be mutatis mutandis followed inthis case too.

Preliminary arrangements against cyclones and tidal disastersmay not be rigid and uniform in respect of all the districts.

The Collector should use his discretion in makingcomprehensive arrangements, to tide over the crisis and tomitigate sufferings.

REVIEW OF PRE-CYCLONE ARRANGEMENTS

The Collectors as, well as the RevenueDivisional Commissioners shall undertakethis review particularly in the coastal belt, inrespect of cyclones, which are very likely to.occur during May to October and furnishtheir review reports to the Special ReliefCommissioner.

REPORTING OF OCCURRENCE OF CYCLONES,TIDAL INUNDATION ETC. As soon as possible within 24 hours of the occurrence of cyclone

etc. the local revenue officer i.e. the Tahasildar or their AdditionalTahasildar or in their absence the Block Development Officer shouldintimate the Sub-Collector and the Collector by the quickest meansof communication available or through special messenger, ifneeded

Intimation to include the occurrence of the disaster, date and timeof occurrence, details about the affected area, crops and otherlosses sustained, etc. as readily available.

Collector on receipt of such information shall communicate thesame to the Revenue Divisional Commissioner, Special ReliefCommissioner as to the other concerned authorities,

More detailed report to follow within three days.

Special Relief Commissioner to furnish the consolidated report toGovernment with its recommendations.

POST-DISASTER MEASURES

The Collector of the district shall immediately undertakea quick review of the situation and furnish a detailedreport as indicated in Paragraph 105 with hissuggestions as to the relief measures to be undertakenin the area. The Board of Revenue / Special ReliefCommissioner. shall forthwith submit consolidated reportto Government with its recommendations.

Immediately after the cyclone, the concernedDepartments of Government should undertakeimmediate inspection of the affected area to be fullyaware of the damage that has been caused by thecyclone and take appropriate protective and restorativeaction within the ambit of their Budgetary provisions asconsidered necessary.

CLEARANCE OF ROADS FOR MOVEMENTOF TRAFFIC The first measure that should be taken up is to clear

up the roads for movement of vehicles. Works Department and Rural Development

Department should lay down standing instructionsfor this purpose so that the clearance work may beundertaken by the lowest executive without waitingfor orders from the higher authorities, without waitingfor any special instructions.

A copy of such standing instructions should be madeavailable to the Collectors, the Revenue DivisionalCommissioners, and the Special Relief Commissionerfor information.

The Collector may expedite this clearance inpursuance of the instructions.

RESCUE AND RELIEF TO MAROONED PEOPLE

Due to the cyclone, many people might havebeen marooned.

The SubCollector shall see that search andrescue parties with necessary boats, food stuff,etc. are immediately deputed to the affectedareas both for rescue and relief purposes.

Emergent relief in the form of food, clothing andshelter may be provide to such people either atthe cyclone shelters or in their villages, byarranging improvised materials like tents,tarpaulins, bamboo mats, etc, if necessary.

DISPOSAL OF DEAD BODIES AND CARCASSES

Paragraph 73 prescribes the procedure fordisposal of dead bodies and carcasses.

The same procedure should be followedhere.

The Collector of the district must see thatimmediate attention is bestowed to thiswork.

RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS AND ARMYASSISTANCE

In case of grave disaster, high dignitaries may like toundertake reconnaissance flights to see the affectedareas.

If the relief and rescue operations undertaken by civilauthorities prove to be inadequate, army assistancehas to be requisitioned.

Special Relief Commissioner should undertake animmediate review of the situation and submitproposals if army assistance may be called for, and ifso, the nature of such assistance forreconnaissance, 'relief and rescue operations.

The procedure prescribed in Paragraph 69 should befollowed for this purpose.

RESTORATION OF COMMUNICATION Restoration of communication is essential for

arranging relief measures in the affected areas. All the road leading to the affected areas should

immediately be repaired for the purpose of movementof traffic and transport of relief goods.

Restoration works may include restoration ofcommunication between State Capital and DistrictHead Quarters, District Headquarters and Sub-divisional Headquarters, restoration of communicationbetween Sub-divisional Headquarters and Tahasil andBlock Headquarters and so on.

Similar attention may be paid by the central authoritiesfor restoration and safety of telecommunication systemand the railway tracks.

PROBLEM OF DRINKING WATER

During a cyclone, the drinking water sources getcontaminated due to several factors.

Drinking water tanks and wells should be disinfected. Tube wells have to be sunk particularly in

problematic areas and in saline inundation areas. Both the Director of Health and Family Welfare

Services and the Chief Engineer, Public Healthshould have always some stand-by provisions to meetthe situation.

Procedure prescribed in Paragraph 34 may beadopted in this case according to necessity.

MISSING OF FISHERMEN AND FISHING CRAFTS

In spite of the regular warning of cyclone or flood, it isgenerally noticed that fishermen and fishing boats go to thesea in the coastal areas disregarding the warnings or beingignorant of the dangers involved.

Very often report of their missing is received. District Administration, Fisheries Department and the Port

Authorities may co-operate in forming search and rescueparties to render necessary help to such fishermen andfishing vessels.

In order to facilitate identification and rescue, thefishermen should be encouraged to adopt some readilydistinguishable coloured dress, like red shirts or turbans orscarves.

Such people should also be trained to hoist red flags inmarooned villages and boats.

RESTORATION OF POWER

It is necessary to assign priorities for therestoration of power. The essential services likehospitals, All India Radio, Doordarshan, watersupply, airfields, Meteorological Departmentshould be given priority.

ASSESSMENT OF CROP LOSS, HUMAN CASUALTY, LIVESTOCK AND OTHER DAMAGE

The areas affected by tidal bore, areas subjected to saline inundation,areas affected by cyclone and flood should be carefully assessed.

At places wind speed measurement apparatus is available.

The Collector should try to collect the figures from such centres andindicate the same in his assessment report in order to evaluate the lossstatements.

Soon after the cyclone, assessment of damages to crops, houses andother properties should be made forthwith by the concerned Departmentsof Government and the Collector in the lines prescribed in Para 74 & 75.

Human casualty by a cyclone or tidal disaster far exceeds such casualtyby any other type of natural calamity,

The Collector shall do well to undertake a census of such casualty at thetime of collection of damage statistics.

Authentic assessment of loss of cattle and other live stock is equallynecessary.

PRELIMINARY AND FINAL DAMAGE REPORTS

On the analogy of Paragraphs 76 and 77, thepreliminary. and final cyclone, etc., damage reportsmay be drawn up and submitted to the requiredauthorities as quickly as possible.

The final report should give exhaustive details ofthe circumstances as well as loss sustained.

SUBMISSION OF REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENTOF INDIA

On receipt of the final report on cyclone, etc.,damages from the Special ReliefCommissioner and the concernedDepartments of Government, a report shall beprepared and submitted by the RevenueDepartment to the Government of India,Ministry of Agriculture, Department ofAgriculture and Cooperation (NDM) and theother concerned Ministries.

DECLARATION OF AREAS AFFECTED BYCYCLONE

Usually the State Government issue a declarationindicating the areas affected by cyclone, etc. in orderto enable the Government employees and others toget necessary help permissible under the Rules.

This declaration cannot be issued in time due todelay in submission of necessary reports by the fieldofficers. Such delay should be avoided by assessingthe damages promptly.

Special Relief Commissioner shall submit a list ofcyclone, etc., affected areas, Gram Panchayat wise,indicating Block and district, along, with the finaldamage report, for consideration of Government fordeclaring such areas as distress or affected areas.

RELIEF MEASURES

Besides providing emergent relief in cyclone-shelters and in the marooned villages, as manyof the relief measures as specified in Paragraph7 may be undertaken, as the situation maydemand.

The detailed procedure for administration ofsuch relief measures as have been prescribedin different chapters of this Code may beadopted.

In case of any difficulty clarification may beobtained from the Special Relief Commissioner.

ASSISTANCE OF POLICE After a damaging cyclone, the law and order problems may arise in

certain spheres, police may, therefore, be vigilant to the situation. For conducting of relief operations police help may be usefully taken. Traffic control arrangements should be tightened so that relief parties

and trucks may get preference in clearance and movement. Many buildings in the affected areas might have been collapsed to the

ground, while others might be in a state of dangerous inclined position.The broken electrical wires are another source of hidden danger. Suchdangerous spots should be identified and cordoned off by the police.

Assistance of police may be required for enforcing the orders of PublicHealth authorities.

Night patrolling in affected areas may be intensified as necessary.Police may also take care of the salvaged and the unclaimed properties.

Police assistance will be needed in enquiring into the causes of deathduring and after a disaster and in disposing of the dead bodies.

Police assistance may be required for guarding relief articles and inmaintaining law and order at the time of distribution of relief.

CLOSURE OF CYCLONE RELIEF OPERATIONS If the cyclone occurs in the month of October or November

and leaves devastating effects then there may be nochance for retrieval of the winter paddy and other crops.

No alternative kharif crop is possible at this late stage.

There may however be some chance for an alternative Rabicrop or a summer crop in some of the areas.

Necessary arrangements may, therefore, be made by theAgriculture Department for the alternate cropping program.

The cropping programe by itself may not be adequate.

Subject to the orders of Government, the relief measuresmay ordinarily be continued till the kharif harvest of thenext year, unless the situation improves otherwise.

COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS PROGRAMMEAND LONG-TERM MEASURES

A devastating cyclone is swift decisive and damaging. In the twinkling ofan eye, large number of people may become homeless or even losetheir lives. Untold miseries may be brought about.

Community preparedness programmes are necessary to lessen thedisastrous impacts and to build up resistance to calamity and to affordnecessary emergency protection.

Such programmes envisage educating the people and for taking timelyaction in face of danger.

No advance warnings of cyclones will be effective unless the public areproperly educated about action to be taken on receipt of such warningsand cooperate fully with the evacuation measures arranged by theGovernment agencies.

In order to impact a broad practical background knowledge of thedisaster, information pamphlets and brochures are to be widelydistributed Books on local languages written on natural calamities andrelief operations may be given to the rural libraries in villages of thecalamity prone areas.

Audio-visual materials may also be shown to the public inconvenient gatherings.

Before the beginning of the storm seasons, the Collector shouldorganise meetings in April and September each year, by theDistrict Public Relations Officer and staff in the rural areas andexplain to the people the procedure for evacuation as well asmeasures to be taken for the safety of life and property.

Information & Public Relations Department have prepareddocumentary films on cyclones. The Oriya version of the filmsshould be exhibited widely in the coastal areas prior to andduring the cyclone season.

Information & Public Relations Department may also preparesome simple slides giving important information and instructionsregarding actions to be taken during cyclones, which may beshown in Cinema Houses or by mobile vans in coastal areas.Educative posters should also be exhibited.

Before the onset of the storm seasons, there should be a series oftalks over the All India radio and Doordarshan by theMeteorological and Administrative Officers on natural calamitieslike cyclones and actions to be taken to face the problems.

Conversational talks on cyclone in the rural programmes of the AllIndia Radio & Doordarshan should be arranged from time to time.

Instructive materials on tropical cyclones and protective measuresto be taken may be included in the educational syllabus in theschool level.

People should be discouraged to live in low-lying and vulnerableareas and to shift to safer locations. In doing so, nothing should bedone to make the people feel panic, or to lose morale.

The Information & Public Relations Department, Education andYouth Services Department, Special Relief Commissioner, RevenueDivisional Commissioner’s and Collectors may bestow necessaryattention to make this programme a success.

REMOVAL OF OLD AND DEAD TREES

During a cyclone many old and dead trees areuprooted and block the traffic.

Such trees in cyclone vulnerable areas (i.e. in thecoastal strip up to a depth of 60 Kms.) should beremoved every year before the cyclone season.

The designated Departments may look to thisprecautionary measure.

The Collector shall review this position and indicatethe problem, if any, in a report to be submitted toGovernment prior to the cyclone season preferably inApril every year.

PERMANENT CYCLONE SHELTERS

As a permanent measure, community buildings, schools etc., should bedesigned in such areas keeping in view that these buildings may also beused as emergency shelters in times of necessity.

Departmental and other public sector buildings to be constructed inthese areas may also conform to the specifications of these shelters.

These shelters should be of two types i.e. for the areas vulnerable to tidalinundation and for the other areas prone to storms and high winds.

The area subject to tidal inundation may be the coastal belt of about 15Km width from the sea coast while the area subject to cyclone may be 15to 60 Km further inland.

The structures in the tidal inundation area and in the other cyclone windarea (i.e. two storey and one storey) may be adopted on competenttechnical advice.

While constructing new buildings in the tidal inundation area peopleshould be instructed to have high plinths so as to withstand tidalinundation.

Similarly farmers may raise platform (mounds) to stock the harvestedcrops to protect them from being washed away by tidal inundation.

CONSTRUCTION OF TIDAL BREAKERS, SHELTER BELTPLANTATIONS AND COASTAL AFFORESTATION

The entire coastal area had large forest growth. With the growth ofpopulation these forest growths have been gradually eliminated. As a resultof this the coastal belt has been subjected to the direct impact of thecyclones, storms and tidal surges.

The designated Department should take protective and preventivemeasures for safeguard bandhs and embankments.

Plantation and afforestation programmes are very much necessary in theseareas. Agriculture and Forest Departments have launched necessaryschemes for the purpose. Departmental as well as private efforts may beencouraged in these directions.

The available forest covers may be scrupulously safeguarded againstunwise encroachments. The forest belt may be about one kilometre deepfrom the coast line to act both as a wind breaker as well a tide breaker.

Some amount of publicity on the good effects of these plantations andafforestation works among the people is necessary to enlist theircooperation in preservation of these assets.

OTHER CHAPTERS

Fire accidents and fire relief Relief work Food Assistance & feeding programme Administration of relief given by other Govts., semi-Govt. & non-official

organizations and individuals Care of orphans and destitute Health & veterinary measures Agriculture measures and provision of credit Strengthening of PDS Special Relief to weavers, artisans and others Miscellaneous relief measures which include ex-gratia for death due to

natural calamities including voluntary workers Accounts & audit Report and returns