After setting global benchmarks in cyclone and flood management, Odisha Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) has now turned its focus towards protection from lightning and thunderstorm.
This was deliberated in Governing Body meeting of the OSDMA held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi on Saturday wherein Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi outlined the issues and placed proposals for consideration.
Considering the proposals, the Governing Body decided to fix lightning arresting systems in multipurpose shelters buildings and strengthen the outdoor lightning alert system. Chief Secretary Padhi directed to expedite implementation of these projects. Padhi also directed to integrate the early warning dissemination system (EWDS), already operationalized in 6 coastal districts with all telecom service providers including BSNL.
Further, it was decided to utilize the services of Apada Mitra volunteers in costal districts to help and assist the community for disaster preparedness and response. In the first phase, 400 such volunteers will be engaged. Chief Secretary Padhi directed to complete training of these volunteers by end of the current month. It was decided to upscale the scheme in other flood prone districts of the State.
SRC Sethi appraised that multipurpose shelters operating in 25 districts would be retrofitted with lightning protection system. In the first phase 640 shelters would be taken up with funding support from World Bank under National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project.
As per preliminary estimate, around Rs 17 crore would be invested in the project. The remaining 239 umltipurpose shelters would be taken up in phases.