The Odisha government has decided to install
360-degree surveillance cameras along the coastline to augment its weather
monitoring systems, Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari has said. Pujari
said the state recently witnessed simultaneous flooding in several rivers,
including the Mahanadi, Salandi, Brahmani, Baitarani, Budhabalanga, Devi and
Jalaka.
“Such simultaneous flooding in multiple river
systems reflects the changing weather pattern and climate change,” he said. The
minister said the state would 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,” he added.
Pujari said the government is 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 Balasore and Bhubaneswar are expected to be commissioned shortly. Repair and
upgradation of the existing radars at Gopalpur and Paradip are underway, and
another Doppler Weather Radar will soon be installed at Puri,” he added.
Pujari said that once all these Doppler Weather
Radars become fully operational, weather forecasting in Odisha will become
significantly more accurate and precise. He said the government has also
decided to strengthen reservoir management, water conservation, river water
allocation and drainage management.