Bhubaneswar, Oct. 29: The state government will build 160 more multipurpose cyclone shelters across the coastal region.

Money has been sanctioned to build 38 flood shelters at different strategic locations across the state.

After the 1999 super cyclone, the state government has developed 180 multipurpose cyclone shelters with funds from the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project and the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project.

“The shelters are helping people during floods as well and can house 1,000 people each at a time. Planning is over regarding building of 160 more such shelters,” said chief secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik.

“Having only high-end equipment for rescue operations will not help. They should be in proper working conditions during the time of disaster,” he said.

He asked the Odisha State Disaster Mitigation Authority and other government agencies to have the equipment operational round the year.

Patnaik was speaking on the occasion of the Odisha Disaster Preparedness Day 2012 and the National Day for Disaster Reduction here today. An exhibition organised by the disaster mitigation authority displayed equipment, which have major role in rescuing people during disaster, included teletector for the first time in the city.

Teletector detects lives under the house debris and measures the radiation levels.

The authority is going to raise a squad of 22 labrador dogs divided into seven groups consisting of three dogs each. Each group will work as an independent rescue team from the house debris without help from human beings.

“The first dog will go and detect life inside the rubble, the second one will locate it and the third will rescue the individual. Another important equipment called rotary rescue saw with power to cut reinforced cement concrete and rods will also be used. All these will be used under the supervision of the National Disaster Reduction Force,” said the official.

Revenue and disaster mitigation minister Suryanarayan Patro said: “The state government has also sanctioned funds to build 38 flood shelters at strategic conditions across the state.”

Patro said: “Already 100 fire stations were strengthened with 24 various equipment to act as a multi-hazard response force at base level.”

To help the vulnerable groups during disasters, the disaster mitigation authority, in collaboration with the Handicap International, has taken up 28 selected multipurpose cyclone shelters, where structural changes were made with provisions of ramps and specially designed toilets. At least one person with disability has been nominated as a member of management and maintenance committee of each shelter.