Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s early warning system is set for a tech boost, with the state government planning to upgrade 122 coastal towers with 360-degree surveillance cameras to enhance weather monitoring and disaster preparedness, Revenue and Disaster Management (R&DM) Minister Suresh Pujari said Thursday. Pujari said the state had recently witnessed simultaneous flooding in several rivers, including the Mahanadi, Salandi, Brahmani, Baitarani and Budhabalanga. “Such simultaneous flooding in multiple river systems reflects changing weather patterns and climate change,” he said. He said, “Our government will modernise all 122 early warning system towers installed along Odisha’s 573-km coastline by equipping them with 360-degree surveillance cameras.
The towers will also be upgraded with satellite-based communication systems.” Pujari said the government was strengthening communication infrastructure across all 314 blocks by integrating high-speed communication technologies with the central control room to improve disaster response. “Senior officials of the department have already visited Goa and Kerala to study their advanced early warning systems and disaster management practices,” he said. “The Doppler Weather Radar at Sambalpur has become operational, while new radars at Baleshwar and Bhubaneswar are expected to be commissioned shortly. Repair and upgradation of the existing radars at Gopalpur and Paradip are under way, and another Doppler Weather Radar will soon be installed at Puri,” he added. Pujari said that once all the Doppler Weather Radars became fully operational, weather forecasting in Odisha would become significantly more accurate.
He said the government has also decided to strengthen reservoir management, water conservation, river water allocation and drainage management. On the flood situation, Pujari said water levels have receded in several rivers but remain high at many places. District administrations have been asked to submit detailed damage assessment reports by 5 pm Friday, he said.
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