Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Water Resources Department has imposed restrictions on leave for its employees during the flood and monsoon season to ensure prompt response to any emergency situation. Officials have been directed not to leave their headquarters without prior permission from the competent authority.

The decision was taken during a pre-flood preparedness review meeting chaired by the Principal Secretary of the Water Resources Department. The meeting focused on flood management, river embankment safety, reservoir operations, and the delivery of emergency services at the field level.

According to the department's guidelines, all officers must remain alert throughout the flood season and be available to respond immediately to emergencies such as flooding, embankment breaches, reservoir water releases, and other disaster-related situations.

The department has also instructed all field-level officers to maintain close coordination with district administrations, police, revenue officials, Panchayati Raj representatives, and disaster management authorities. Officials have been asked to keep updated contact details of key officers, public representatives, and equipment suppliers readily available for emergency use.

To facilitate quick decision-making and monitoring during the flood season, 24-hour flood control rooms will remain operational till October 31 at all departmental divisions, circles, Chief Engineer offices, and Rajiv Bhavan. Officers assigned to these control rooms have been directed to remain available at all times.

During the review meeting, officials were advised to closely monitor embankment breach-prone locations identified over the past three years. They were also instructed to strictly adhere to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) related to reservoir gate operations and ensure there is no negligence in flood management activities.