Bhubaneswar, Feb. 19: The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) has been assigned the additional task of managing issues arising out of drought-like situation.

Earlier, it was responsible only for managing situations relating to flood and cyclone, while the revenue and agriculture departments monitored the drought situation.

A decision to this effect was taken yesterday at a governing board meeting chaired by chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi.

Special relief commissioner Pradipta Mohapatra said: "We will set up a dedicated cell in the OSDMA office to manage issues arising out of a drought-like situation. We have earmarked Rs 94 crore for this purpose and also develop a software to keep all drought-related data."

According to plans, the state government will set up nearly 5,100 rain gauges across Odisha to keep tabs on rainfall. Besides, it will institute 1,015 scientific instruments to track changing patterns of the environment.

"The scientific instrument in a particular area will be able to keep data of rainfall in a large swathe, up to 25km," said an official.

The official also said they would deploy automated machines to track the moisture content of soil, according to the proposals.

"The nature of soil is different in different parts of the state. We will encourage people to take up a particular pattern of cultivation which suits the soil," said officials.

In order to provide basic inputs to farmers and address their concerns, the state government will set up a 24-hour call centre.

"We will encourage farmers to give feedback about their areas and the kind of help they expect from the government. They will also get information about various insurance schemes and their benefits," he said.

In another development, the state government has also decided to hand over the multi-purpose community centre, built to provide shelters to people during flood and cyclones, to the gram panchayat.

A committee will be formed under the chairmanship of local sarapanches to manage the community centres.

The state government has, so far, given the nod to 879 community centres. Out of this, 713 are functional while construction on the rest is ongoing.