Bhubaneswar : In an aim to reduce deaths by lightning, the state government has decided to use lightning arresting systems in multipurpose shelters and buildings and strengthen the outdoor lightning alert system.
This was decided at the governing body meeting of Odisha Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi here Saturday.
Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi said 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 multipurpose shelters would be taken up in phases, Sethi said.
“OSDMA, in collaboration with USA based firm Earth Networks, has installed six lightning detection sensors in different parts of the state. The system predicts lightning about 30 to 45 minutes in advance. Map based lightning alerts are also provided,” Sethi added.
The state government decided to install more alert systems in 14 of the most lightning-prone blocks of the state as part of a pilot project. The system would specify the exact location of the lightning and storm and provide automatic warning through sirens. The siren would be audible to a distance of one kilometer radius, the SRC said.
Padhi said the early warning dissemination system (EWDS), already operationalised in 6 costal districts, will be integrated with all telecom service providers including BSNL.
Further, it was decided to utilise the services of Apada Mitra volunteers in coastal districts to help and assist the community for disaster preparedness and response. In the first phase, 400 such volunteers will be engaged.
The Chief Secretary asked the OSDMA officials to complete training of these volunteers by the end of the current month. It was decided to upscale the scheme in other flood-prone districts of the state.
