Bhubaneswar: On the occasion of Odisha Disaster Preparedness Day, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will inaugurate the Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS) on Monday.
At the time of inauguration, alert siren will be activated. Alert siren will be activated for demonstration purpose only.
“Since the alert siren will be activated for demonstration purpose only at the time of inauguration, we are taking necessary steps to inform the public in coastal areas not to panic,” said a communiqué issued by the Special Relief Commissioner’s office.
Earlier in October first week Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi asked the Project Manager, EWDS-Odisha, project executant Larsen & Toubro, Bhubaneswar to complete the Early Warning Dissemination System and its Operational Acceptance Tests (OAT) by October 25 unfailingly.
The Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS) is being implemented in six coastal districts. The system is being implemented under the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project.
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 1,500 km in open sea from the coastline.
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.
