Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday inaugurated the Odisha State Watermanship and Lifeguard Institute (OSWALI) near Konark in Puri district to impart training in watermanship and life guarding.
OSWALI will emerge as a dedicated facility aimed at enhancing water safety, coastal resilience, and disaster response capabilities across the state and country.
CM Majhi stated that OSWALI, built at a cost of Rs 12 crore with an additional Rs 10 crore sanctioned for further strengthening, is the first such institute in India outside the purview of the Indian Navy.
He said the state government was committed to strengthening the fire services, improving the emergency response system and increasing training opportunities for officers and the youth.
“The training centre that has been started here today will train the country’s fire brigade, paramilitary forces, NDRF, police, security guards and volunteers deployed in disaster relief work in various states,” he said.
During the event, the CM also laid the foundation stone for a scuba complex designed to provide advanced underwater rescue training. This move is part of a broader effort to expand the state’s adventure and coastal tourism sector.
A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the Odisha Tourism Department and the Odisha Fire and Emergency Services in this regard.
Another agreement was signed among Odisha Tourism, Odisha Fire & Emergency Services, and the National Institute of Water Sports (NIWS) in Goa for developing water sports safety standards, conducting professional lifeguard training, capacity building, and expanding the scope of adventure and coastal tourism in the state.
The event witnessed a watermanship show on rescue and lifesaving skills, and coastal emergency preparedness by personnel of the Odisha Fire and Emergency Services.
CM Majhi also inaugurated a new ‘eco-retreat’ resort near the Puri-Konark marine drive road. Majhi said the meetings of the state cabinet will be held in these resorts in the coming days.
The CM praised the state’s ‘eco-retreats’ as a national model for tourism, noting their role in creating livelihoods, boosting the local economy, and raising environmental awareness.
Majhi pledged to develop more such facilities across the state.
