EARLY WARNING DISSEMINATION SYSTEM (EWDS), ODISHA

About:

• Objective:
  • Its objective is to simultaneously warn coastal communities and fisherfolk about impending cyclone and tsunami through siren towers.
    
    
  • Fishermen fishing in deep sea can also be reached via mass SMS on their mobile phones through EWDS.
    
    
  
  
  
• Working:
  • EWDS comprises technologies such as satellite-based mobile data voice terminals, digital mobile radio, mass messaging system and universal communication interface for interoperability.
    
    
  • Sirens will go off from 122 towers installed along the 480-km-long coast of the State if a button is pressed in the State emergency centre in Bhubaneswar.
    
    
  
  
  
• Agencies involved: The EWDS, is a collaborative effort of the Central and State governments, has been implemented under the assistance of World Bank.
  
  
• Parent program: It’s a part of the last-mile connectivity programme under National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project.
  
  
• Coverage: Six coastal districts —Balasore, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Puri and Ganjam — have been covered under the EWDS.