State Institute of Disaster Management to come up at Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to establish a state of the art dedicated institute namely State Institute of Disaster Management (SIDM) in Bhubaneswar for imparting training on disaster management.

It would soon be established at Gothapatna, Bhubaneswar for the effective capacity building of all the stakeholders and research activities for disaster management in the state, said an official.

It was revealed from the 31st Governing Body meeting of Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) held under the chairmanship of chief secretary AP Padhi on Thursday.

To protect human lives and livestock in the coastal areas of the state from tsunami and cyclone, one innovative project namely Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS) is almost at the final stage and is targeted to be completed by 31st March 2018, the official said.

This project is first of its kind in the entire country.

The newly constituted 10 ODRAF units will be provided with state of the art, search & rescue equipment and the SAR equipment available with the existing 10 ODRAF units and all the fire stations will be upgraded.

One comprehensive annual training calendar developed by OSDMA for imparting training, skill upgradation and awareness generation among all the stakeholders like ODRAF, Fire Services, Civil defence, PRI Members, School Students, NCC cadets, NSS volunteers has been approved.

In Jagatsinghpur and Puri districts, 400 identified community volunteers will be trained and equipped under Aapada Mitra scheme of NDMA.

The State Drought Monitoring Cell in OSDMA will install Automated Weather Stations (AWS) in all the Blocks and Automated Rain Gauges in most of the identified GPs for effective monitoring of Drought and Crop Insurance in the State.

The Cyclone shelters / Flood shelters (62 numbers) which are being constructed under CMRF, State Plan and World Bank funding will be expedited and targeted to be completed within the stipulated time frame.

It has been decided to ensure the vacation of old houses and occupation of new houses by the selected beneficiaries under World Bank assisted ODRP in Ganjam and Khordha districts.

The sea eroded villages and the affected villagers of Satabhaya under Kendrapara district are being shifted to Bagapatia relocation site of Rajnagar Block. It was decided to expedite the construction of houses at relocation site including the earth filling.