KENDRAPARA: The Orissa State Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA) installed 21 ham (amateur) radios in ten districts, including six coastal ones, recently. Last year, UNDP provided the ham radios to OSDMA for installation. Due to non-availability of trained ham radio operators the installation of radios was delayed, said Pravat Ranjan Mohapatra, deputy general manager and coordinator of OSDMA.

Catch them young and make them grow, so goes the saying.
Hazard a guess what this concept has got to do with disaster management in the State. Well, the district authorities have worked out ambitious plans to involve the student community and the youth in the implementation of disaster management in South Goa.

AHMEDABAD: For those whose vehicles get stuck in the rains while on their way home or office or who are unable to venture out of their homes because of waterlogging in their areas, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has established helplines for immediate redressal. The system called Jansuvidha would update you on your mobile phone about the status of your complaints.

Mumbai The Centre on Monday allocated Rs 500 crore for completion of Brihanmumbai Storm Water Drain project (BRIMSTOWAD), which is considered the solution to overhaul the archaic storm water drain system and resolve the flooding situation in the coastal and low-lying Mumbai.

AHMEDABAD: If you had a drainage block, water logging problems, cave-ins or a storm water drain burst in your area this monsoon, just lodge your complaint to the SMS' complaint redressal Jansuvidha' system and expect a speedy response. The system was first introduced in the new west zone followed by the south zone in recent months and would now be extended to the entire city from Monday next.

Thiruvananthapuram: Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran has asked the Kerala government to submit a Rs.400-crore project to the Centre for assistance to improve preparedness for cyclones.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) will make the Disaster Impact Assessment (DIA) report compulsory for all future development projects, Director General Major General Gamini Hettiarachchi said. He said this system will help identify suitable land for development projects and will also help to mitigate and prevent disasters to a greater extent.