Odishatv Bureau

Bhubaneswar: With an aim to provide early and timely information on natural calamities to the people of the state, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday launched an early warning dissemination system (EWDS).

A total of 122 towers have been installed in the coastal districts to provide timely warning to people and fishermenabout natural hazards like cyclone, tsunami and flood.

The EWDS will help to warn the vast population residing along the coast in the state from the state headquarters through alert siren system from the towers which have been placed at a distance of 1.5 km approximately from the coastline. Alert messages will also be sent to people through messages on mobile phones.

Speaking on the occasion, CM Naveen announced the preparation of Village Disaster Management Plans (VDMPs) in 7,000 villages in the first phase.

The vulnerability of landslides in Gajapati district would be taken up for study to work out preventive measures to minimise loss of lives and property due to disasters in future, he said.

Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi on the other hand said that the State has been observing Odisha Disaster Preparedness Day on October 29, the day on which super cyclone hit the state and breaking the backbone of the State.

"The new early warning dissemination system will help giving timely warning about natural calamities, including lightning, to people staying in the coastal regions. Location Based Alert System is also included in the project under which people staying in the danger zone and using mobiles will be send messages," Sethi added.

(With Agency Inputs)

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