CANACONA
The Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS) tower at Agonda beach has been completed and three similar towers are being installed at the Rajbhag-Tarir, Talpona-Galgibaga and Polem coast.
Work to erect the EWDS tower had begun last year but it got delayed after seawater gushed into the pit excavated to lay the foundation near the Lifeguard Tower at Agonda beach.
The team had even constructed a makeshift road on one side of the beach to transport the material and the tower was finally completed a few days ago, sources told The Goan.
Sources said the Goa Coastal Zone Management (GCZMA) as part of the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) had granted approval to the Water Resources Department (WRD) to erect 38 automatic EWDS towers in CRZ areas covering 104 kms of coastline at 18 beaches in the six talukas of Tiswadi, Pernem, Bardez, Mormugao, Canacona and Salcete, with each of tower having a height ranging from 10 mtrs to 15 mtrs.
The EWDS, also known as Cyclone Siren System, is a first-of-its-kind automatic public address system in the country and is being implemented under the funding of World Bank in the coastal States.
Sources said the EWDS comprises certain devices with inbuilt digital mobile radio (DMR), satellite-based mobile data voice terminals (SBMDVT), mass messaging system (MMS) and universal communication interface (UCI) which help in inter-operability among different communication technologies.
“Whenever there is a slightest hint of a tsunami or cyclone or any other natural calamity, the Control Room maintained by WRD can send a warning to the entire state just by the press of a button,” added the source.
“Loud sirens will go off at the same time at the Tower and the sound can be heard in localities to a radius of 1.5 km. With this pre-warning, the EWDS can help the people to move to safer places.”
Once commissioned, the towers will warn people about an impending disaster and also alert coastal communities/residents and fishermen about impending natural disasters such as floods, cyclone or tsunami through a tower siren. Besides, loud sirens messages on mobile phones will go off simultaneously from the high towers.
With the State just three months away from the monsoons, it is expected that most of the EWDS or Cyclone Siren Systems Towers, which were original scheduled to be completed by end of 2020, will be commissioned and made operational in next two months this year itself, added the sources.
