Early Warning Dissemination System strengthened

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar, February 8, 2018: The Early Warning
Dissemination System (EWDS) being set up to alert the vast population residing
along the coast in the event of natural disasters like a tsunami or a cyclone
will be integrated with INCOIS/ISRO based warning system to extend coverage of
warning dissemination up to 1500 km in open sea from the coastline.

It was decided in a meeting held at the headquarters of
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) at New Delhi recently.

The coverage of EWDS in open sea is limited to 1-20 km from
the coastline.

The ISRO has developed a portable device/receiver viz Navlc
(Navigation with Indian Constellation) which will extend coverage of warning
dissemination upto 1500 kms. This portable NavIC is planned to be distributed
shortly to the fishermen on a pilot basis by ISRO.

The NavIC device will enable the fishermen on board deep sea
fishing vessel to receive warning signals disseminated by the Indian National
Centre for Ocean Information Services( INCOIS) through Indian Regional National
Satellite System (IRNSS) based application, GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation
(GAGAN) developed by ISRO in collaboration with Airports Authority of India
(AAI).

INCOIS/ISRO has distributed Distress Alert Transmitters
(DATs) to fishermen, enabling them to transmit distress signals to marine
Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Chennai, hub operated by Coast Guard.

The NDMA has urged the state to integrate EWDS (under National
Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) with ISRO/INCOIS managed dissemination
system and ensure that training and capacity building activities about various
warning dissemination system in place for reaching out to the coastal community
including fishermen on board deep sea fishing vessels.