Guwahati, Oct. 19: A state-of-the-art control room with satellite-based communication system for disaster management will be set up by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the office of the deputy commissioner here.

“The control room, which will share information with the global agencies, will be inaugurated on the occasion of ‘National Disaster Reduction Day (NDR Day)’ on October 29. We propose to set up similar centres all over the state,” Kamrup deputy commissioner A.K. Absar Hazarika told newspersons here today.

It was on October 29, 1999 that the disastrous supercyclone struck Orissa. It is for the first time that the day will be observed in Assam to create awareness about natural disasters, preparedness and mitigation.

“Floods in Assam have caused largescale damage but if an earthquake strikes, the disaster would be manifold as the Northeast falls in Zone-V, the most vulnerable seismic zone,” Hazarika said.

Since media plays a vital role in educating the public about disasters, warning, gathering and transmitting information in affected areas, alerting government officials, relief organisations and the public to specific needs, the theme of the day will be “Role of media in disaster management”.

“We will try to develop strategies for role of media in disaster preparedness, some basic principles for disaster coverage by the media, evaluation and improvement in quality, accuracy, timeliness of the reporting of media on disasters and to build public opinion,” said Hazarika.

“A news story about the damage inflicted by a cyclone, for example, could just as easily include information about the types of structures that survived and those that did not,” he added.

A number of programmes like essay and painting competitions, cycle rally and an exhibition of photographs will be held on the occasion. A workshop will also be held which will showcase audio-visuals/file clippings on major disasters in India and abroad, aftermath, rescue and community preparedness.

“There is a need for disaster mitigation organisations to focus more on their public information efforts and media should focus more on disaster prevention and reduction rather than loss of life and damage to property alone,” Hazarika said.

“With our limited means, we will try to sustain our endeavour. We have invited engineers from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and Roorkee to test the structure of high-rises in the city and suggest remedial measures,” he added.