Odisha revives disaster system

Bhubaneswar: Prone to natural calamities and having experienced the effects of super-cyclone in 1999 and Phailin in 2013, the state government has revamped its cyclone response mechanism with new innovations in technology, multipurpose training and skills to handle on-ground situations and most important, the panic management among the local habitats.

Top officials of Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) on Wednesday told this newspaper that 10 more Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) units were underway in the process of induction and soon the strength would be 20 units.

The ODRAF recruits were chosen from the armed police as they had specific training and were physically fit for such operations, said additional director general (DG) (Law and Order) of Odisha Police, Vinay Anand Jha.

Laying emphasis on the ‘Last Mile Connectivity’ in the coastal areas, Kamal Lochan Mishra, chief general manager, OSDMA, informed that the Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS) towers would be functional by July. Mr Mishra said the state government was in the process of installing 122 EWDS towers along the coastal villages, as they will play a crucial role in warning the people living in coastal areas, especially in case of Tsunamis and other dangers too.

These towers mounted with high power sirens are effective in warning people within 2 to 3km in their range.

Mr Mishra also said, “In case of a cyclone, the Met department gives us warning four-five days prior whereas in case of a Tsunami, we get the information only 3 to 4 hours before it strikes. So, we needed an alarm system that can alert people.”

OSDMA managing director Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra said Odisha was approached by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to impart training and share knowledge on cyclone preparedness with 14 island nations of the Pacific that were regularly hit by cyclones.

“We have already confirmed our willingness to impart training to these executives,” said Mr Mohapatra.

Over 10,000 people had lost their lives in the 1999 Super Cyclone and since then the state government has left no stone unturned in the field of disaster management.

“We’ll be happy to share the lessons learnt from previous disasters, manpower skill and infrastructure development, and present management practices to help other states and nations,” said Mohapatra said, adding, OSDMA’s focus was ‘Mission Zero Casualty’ for all disasters.

The state has been training the local communities on how to deal with disasters through various cultural programmes and street plays, so the village inhabitants can best understand the procedure and message to be given to them. About 400 multipurpose cyclone and flood shelters have been constructed and 400 more shelter buildings are being set, the OSDMA official said. A total of 177 fire service units of the state have been equipped with modern search and rescue equipment, including inflatable rubber boats, to act in emergency.

Despite all odds, the state people live in tune with the environment. In view of all the disasters faced by the state in the past, the government is geared up with various policies, training and management measures for the disasters.