Odisha govt to set up 314 Automatic Weather Stations

Bhubaneswar: Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) has initiated the process for setting up 314 Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) and about 6000 Automatic Rain Gauges (ARG) covering the entire state, said an official on Wednesday.

Rs.94.22 crore has been sanctioned for the purpose under RKVY.

It was revealed at a meeting of the State Executive Committee constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, held under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary AP Padhi here on Wednesday.

As per the provisions of the DM Act, the Disaster Management Plan for the state for the year 2018-19 has been prepared by OSDMA. Similarly, Departmental Disaster Management Plans have been prepared by 24 related departments and District Disaster Management Plans by all the 30 districts.

These plans were placed before the State Executive Committee for perusal and suggestions if any. These plans shall be placed before the State Disaster Management Authority headed by the Hon’ble Chief Minister for approval.

The Committee reviewed the progress of the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) implemented in the State under World Bank assistance under which various structural measures were taken up by OSDMA.

In the meantime, all 154 multipurpose cyclone shelters, 143 all-weather connecting roads with a total length of 218.500 km and 12 saline embankment with a length of 57.577 km have been completed. Out of the total project outlay of Rs.695.97 crore, Rs.597.1321 crore has been spent as on 30 June this year.

Similarly, out of 162 MCS and 100 all-weather connectivity roads (170.036 km) taken up under NCRMP-Additional Financing, work of 151 MCS and 99 roads (168.00 km) have been completed.

The balance works have been targeted to be completed by August 2018. An amount of Rs.388.40 crore out of the total project outlay of Rs.478.27 crore has been spent as on 30.06.2018.

OSDMA has initiated the process for procurement of different search, rescue and other life-saving equipment to the cyclone shelters which is likely to be completed by October 2018.

Capacity building activities have also been taken at the shelter level to train the community volunteers in response activities. OSDMA is taking steps for installation of lightning arrestor systems in the cyclone shelters.

Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS) for Last Mile Connectivity under the NCRMP is being implemented in 22 blocks under 6 coastal districts (Balasore, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapdra, Puri & Ganjam in Odisha.

Five layers of communication system are being set up under the project, such as- Satellite-Based Mobile Data Voice Terminals (SBMDVT); Digital Mobile Radio (DMR); Mass Messaging System (i. Group-Based, ii. Location Based Alert System); Alert Siren System; and Universal Communication Interface (UCI).

The work of all the components of the project has almost come to the end except the sub-component ‘Location Based Alert System’ of the Mass Messaging System and integration of radio pack with the alert siren system. The project is likely to be operationalized by 31st July 2018.

As many as 814 Multipurpose Cyclone Shelter buildings each with 3000/ 2000 sqft plinth area have been constructed by OSDMA under different sources of funding including Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF), Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF), State Plan, World Bank finance, etc. to provide safe shelter to people during severe disasters.

It was decided to hand over the said buildings to the respective Blocks for maintenance by the Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Department.

The strategy for management of industrial and chemical disasters, supply/ repair of equipment of the ODRAF units and other matters relating to disaster management were also discussed in the meeting.