Bhubaneswar: Moving a step closer towards achieving ‘Mission Zero Casualty’, the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) has inked pacts with Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) of Bangkok and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham of Kerala to strengthen state’s preparedness for tackling calamities. The pacts were signed in presence of Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena and Additional Chief Secretary-cum-OSDMA Managing Director Satyabrata Sahu here. OSDMA Executive Director Susmita Behera signed the MoU with Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Director Maneesha Vinodini Ramesh for developing landslide early warning system in Odisha. “This collaboration will strengthen the state government’s preparedness for managing landslides through early warning dissemination,” the official said.
The OSDMA Executive Director inked a pact with RIMES senior advisor KJ Ramesh. “RIMES will support OSDMA as knowledge partner and system integrator for implementing the World Bank-supported Odisha State Capability and Resilient Growth Programme (OSCRGP),” the official said. “This collaboration will strengthen the government’s preparedness for managing disasters through impact-based forecasting, early warning dissemination and last mile connectivity. This shall empower the people of Odisha to leverage technology to mainstream disaster preparedness, strengthening state’s disaster management,” the official pointed out.
According to the Chief Secretary, these pacts shall ensure government’s effort towards achieving ‘Mission Zero Casualty’ during disasters. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has said that ‘every life is precious’, he said. “Odisha is known as the best state in disaster management. These collaborations will also help in the capacity building of youth towards disaster preparedness,” Jena said.