The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Pat for Cuddalore model of last mile connectivity

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Monday, Mar 17, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Pat for Cuddalore model of last mile connectivity

Staff Reporter

KANCHEEPURAM: The Cuddalore model of last mile connectivity will be adopted as the base model of communication aspect of the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation (NCRM) programme conceived by the National Disaster Management Authority, according to Shashidhar Reddy, member, NDMA.

While commending the Tamil Nadu government for the post-tsunami rescue and rehabilitation measures in the coastal areas, Mr. Reddy said the communication facility set up using VHF technology in Cuddalore district to pass on information about impending danger from the district headquarters to the last hamlet located on the coastline has inspired the NDMA.

Talking to reporters at Mamallapuram on Saturday, Mr. Reddy said that it was decided to adopt this technique as the base model in the World Bank-assisted $300 million NCRM programme, to be launched by the Union government in nine coastal States and four Union Territories. A total of 7,516 km of coastline in 84 districts would be covered under the programme.

Creation of coastal shelter belts by planting casuarinas or mangroves, setting up of cyclone shelters, laying of proper approach roads and construction of bridges/culverts would also be taken up under the programme. Apart from this, capacity building programmes for district-level officials would also be conducted. Documentation of major natural calamities would be taken up so as to assess/study the preceding and post situation of the affected areas following calamity.

This would help throw light on the consequences in case if official machinery remains inactive during emergency.

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