File picture of a devastated hut in Gopalpur after Phailin

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 1: The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority will procure 60 modern satellite phones to strengthen communication for effective disaster management.

The devices will replace 33 Inmarsat Mini-M terminal satellite telephones, which had helped in the aftermath of the 1999 super cyclone.

The authority’s general body, chaired by chief secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra, today approved the proposal.

Sources said the authority had procured 33 Inmarsat Mini-M terminal satellite phones and two Voyager antenna-mounted sat phones during 2001-07. The phones were provided to the authority, state revenue and disaster management department and the district collectors for emergency use.

The manufacturer of these telephones has stopped producing the devices. The annual maintenance contract for the phones has also expired since April 2011.

The authority, therefore, today decided to procure 60 Inmarsat BGAN terminal satellite telephones and phase out the existing phones, said an official.

The general body also ratified the Rs 1,100-crore worth Odisha Disaster Recovery Project. The project is being implemented in Ganjam, Puri and Khurda districts with the World Bank support. Under this project, about 30,000 pucca houses will be built in the identified rural areas, which are located 5km from high-tide line in Ganjam and Puri districts and 5km from the Chilika lake in Khurda district. Besides, urban infrastructure will be created in Berhampur and measures will be taken for capacity building in the disaster risk management.

The additional phase of the World Bank-funded National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project at a cost of Rs 440 crore was also ratified. Under this project, 162 cyclone shelters along with approach roads will be built.

The governing body also decided to prepare a draft on insurance policy for the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and fire service personnel. The state has 10 force units and another 10 will be set up. It was decided that guidelines on recruitment and deployment would be prepared for the personnel. Training and capacity-building guidelines were also approved today.

It was decided that an integrated complex consisting the authority’s office, emergency operation centre and other establishments related to disaster management would be built.