Bhubaneswar: With recurring urban flooding and heatwave conditions emerging as major challenges for cities, the housing and urban development department on Tuesday began the process of preparing a comprehensive action plan to improve preparedness and modernise storm-water drainage systems across major urban centres.A high-level meeting chaired by additional chief secretary Usha Padhee took the decision. State relief commissioner Rajesh Pravakar Patil, along with senior officials from the department, municipal administration, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and others, attended the meeting.Officials discussed a coordinated framework covering preparation of detailed project reports, funding arrangements, capacity building, technical support and institutional mechanisms for implementation. The proposed measures will target all six municipal corporations and key towns in other urban local bodies.Padhee directed officials to prepare a time-bound action plan defining responsibilities of different agencies. She suggested that the proposal be placed before the upcoming urban conclave to ensure wider stakeholder participation and consultation. Stressing the need for an integrated approach, she also called for coordination with other key agencies.On heatwave preparedness, Padhee asked officials to identify urban hotspots requiring immediate intervention and develop a set of common measures that can be adopted across cities. She said guidelines should clearly mention immediate interventions as well as the funding sources available for their implementation.Emphasising the need for visible outcomes, Padhee asked departments to ensure concrete relief measures are in place before next summer. She also advocated systematic planning of medium- and long-term interventions, including large-scale plantations and other nature-based solutions in coordination with the forest department.The meeting also reviewed regulatory aspects such as building rules, bye-laws and planning provisions that could support climate resilience measures. Padhee proposed utilising the expertise of Odisha Urban Academy to provide structured training programmes for officials and technical personnel.For storm-water management, she directed the urban planning section to treat the issue as a priority. The department is also considering establishing a dedicated institutional mechanism to implement storm-water action plans, prepare DPRs and provide technical support, officials said.
